Muscat: Oman Air is set to launch a second service between Muscat and London’s Heathrow Airport from Tuesday, April 12.
The new service will complement Oman Air’s existing daily, non-stop and direct service between the two capitals.
Get your essential daily briefing delivered direct to your email inbox with our e-newsletter
The service will be launched in response to overwhelming demand from air travellers for flights between Muscat and London, and from London to onward destinations in the Middle East and Asia. Bookings for the new service are now available online at www.omanair.com, or through local travel agents.
Paul Gregorowitsch, chief executive officer (CEO) of Oman Air, announced the new service, saying: "We are delighted to be launching a second daily frequency between Muscat and London. The popularity of Muscat as a destination for British travellers has never been greater. Furthermore, the longstanding links between the Sultanate and the United Kingdom ensure that London remains one of the most popular destinations for Omani travellers.”
"Oman Air’s second daily service between these two great cities will therefore be warmly welcomed in the U.K. and Oman. In addition, customers flying to and from other destinations within our growing international network will enjoy greater choice and convenience, as well as easier connections at Muscat.”
Gregorowitsch continued: "Our customers have expressed a strong desire for a second frequency into London and we are very pleased to be meeting that demand with this new service. Whilst our existing service operates from Terminal 3 at Heathrow, the new service will operate from Terminal 4.
"We believe that it is vital to offer our customers this increased choice now and, in the short term, that means flying out of two terminals in London. However, we are working closely with the airport authorities at Heathrow to accommodate all of Oman Air’s operations at Terminal 4 from the earliest possible date. After those arrangements are agreed upon, we will provide clear information to our customers about which terminal they are due to fly from.”
Oman Air’s first service to London was launched in 2007 and was, alongside Bangkok, one of the airline’s first two inter-continental destinations. Regarded as a flagship route, the Muscat to London service has experienced rapid growth and is regularly sold out in each of its three classes. The second frequency will enable thousands of customers a year to experience Oman Air’s award-winning products and services, and its warm Omani hospitality.
The Muscat to London route is operated with Airbus A330-300s, each of which offers outstanding onboard comfort and amenity. Spacious, fully lie-flat seats—each with direct aisle access—are offered in both First Class and Business Class, whilst comfortable, fully adjustable seats are fitted in a 2-4-2 configuration in the Economy Class. Mobile phone and WiFi connectivity, pioneered by Oman Air in 2010 on the Muscat-London route, is available throughout each aircraft. In addition, a la carte cuisine is offered in every class, with First Class dining on the Muscat-London service being singled out for praise in the Reader’s Choice category of Saveur magazine’s Culinary Travel Awards 2014.
Oman Air is currently engaged in a major fleet expansion programme, which will see the airline’s fleet increase its size to 70 aircraft by 2020. The fleet size currently stands at 40 aircraft, which includes Oman Air’s first Boeing 787 Dreamliners. These innovative and already-iconic aircraft are likely to be introduced to the London service over the next two years. Parallel with the fleet expansion, a range of exciting new destinations is also being introduced to the airline’s network, frequencies are being increased on established routes, such as the Muscat to London service, and connections at Muscat International Airport are also being improved.