In June 2022, it was revealed that Oman Air would be part of the oneworld alliance. Now that it’s 2024, I do know many individuals are questioning when the airline will formally be part of. Whereas we don’t have a precise date, we do have an replace on the timeline, as that is anticipated to occur within the second half of 2024, per Government Traveller.
Oman Air shall be latest oneworld member airline
Oman Air shall be becoming a member of the oneworld alliance, in a course of that ought to be accomplished within the second half of 2024 (and I’d guess it’s going to be within the fourth quarter). This growth was introduced on the June 2022 IATA annual basic assembly, which happened in Doha, Qatar.
https://twitter.com/omanair/standing/1538872033882382339
In 2021, Oman Air revealed its plans to use to hitch the oneworld world alliance. The Muscat-based airline hoped for Qatar Airways’ assist in engaging in this. Qatar Airways will not be solely one other airline from the area, but additionally a oneworld member airline. For that matter, Qatar Airways’ former CEO was the chairman of oneworld on the time, and one in every of his main targets was to increase membership within the alliance.
The oneworld alliance is likely one of the three main world alliances. Main airways in oneworld embrace American Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airways, Qantas, and extra. Previously few years the alliance added two new members (Alaska and Royal Air Maroc), but additionally misplaced one member (LATAM).
What’s Oman Air, anyway?
Oman Air is a Muscat-based airline, and it operates a fleet of almost 50 plane, together with 787s, A330s, and 737s. That is undoubtedly extra of a “boutique” airline, and doesn’t compete on the worldwide scale that Emirates and Qatar Airways do, for instance. Oman Air flies as far West because the UK, and as far East because the Philippines.
Oman Air has an unbelievable enterprise class product — the airline has Apex Suites in enterprise class, and even has firstclass on choose Boeing 787-9s. The problem is that Oman Air is kind of inconsistent. On a great day, Oman Air is prime notch. On a nasty day… nicely, not a lot.
I’m thrilled that Oman Air is becoming a member of the oneworld alliance — oneworld affords the strongest elite recognition of any main alliance (I like being a oneworld Emerald), and the prospect of incomes and redeeming oneworld miles for journey on Oman Air is thrilling.
I’m additionally curious to see what Oman Air does in the case of lounge entry for elite members at its Muscat hub. Oman Air has an ideal firstclass lounge, which is method underutilized — the airline has only a few planes with firstclass, however has a large firstclass lounge. For instance, I just lately spent about six hours on this lounge, and was the one passenger there your entire time. Right here’s to hoping the airline permits oneworld Emerald members into this lounge, as that might be fairly a deal with, and can be among the many greatest oneworld Emerald lounges on the market.
For what it’s value, in the meanwhile Oman Air has a partnership with Air Canada Aeroplan, so redeeming Aeroplan factors is presently the very best worth for Oman Air awards.
Is Oman Air a great match for oneworld?
In some methods I’m shocked that oneworld is the alliance that Oman Air is becoming a member of. As a lot as I’m personally thrilled about this, on the floor you’d assume that Star Alliance can be a greater match:
- The oneworld alliance already has Qatar Airways, one of many largest Gulf airways, which competes fairly instantly with Oman Air for connecting visitors
- Star Alliance, however, doesn’t have any airways instantly from that area; the closest airways can be EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airways, and Turkish Airways, however I wouldn’t take into account these to be direct opponents in the identical method
I think this comes right down to Qatar Airways and Oman Air cooperating fairly intently on the whole, and actually viewing themselves extra as companions than as rivals. Qatar Airways is even presently leasing planes from Oman Air.
I think this friendship between the airways is a part of the explanation that Oman Air chosen oneworld.
Backside line
Oman Air is becoming a member of the oneworld alliance, and that course of ought to be accomplished by the second half of 2024. Whereas Oman Air’s want to hitch the alliance was first revealed in September 2021, it’s good to see this lastly occurring. As a oneworld loyalist, I’m thrilled to see that this nice small airline shall be a part of a worldwide alliance.
It’s simply too unhealthy that this course of is so sluggish, and that Oman Air received’t be a full member of the alliance for a number of extra months.
What do you make of Oman Air becoming a member of oneworld?
