Oman Airports Management Company agreement to create 500 new jobs

Muscat: Passengers should receive better services and 500 jobs could be created with the awarding of a ground handling contract by Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC). Bosses at the company – in charge of the existing and the new Muscat International Airport project, have signed a strategic contract with Swissport International and an Oman Air and Menzies Aviation joint venture (JV).
The contract will see Swissport, Oman Air and Menzies provide ground handling services at both the old and new Muscat International Airport for a decade, beginning from January 2017, which will also result in 500 jobs.
Passengers can expect waiting times to be shortened as a result of the professional and efficient ground handling service.
“The whole motive behind this—giving liberty to two ground handlers—is to give better service to the passengers,” said Aimen Al Hosni, chief executive officer (CEO) of OAMC.
“The minutes of baggage time (will be reduced), the steps will come on time, the doors will open on spot and the buses will be cleaner,” he added.
He also said check-in counters will become more efficient with services to become better soon.
The agreement also promises to create 400 to 500 jobs initially, which is subject to legal Omanisation requirements.
When asked about the quality of training that will be given to ground handlers, Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO of Oman Air said, “We will make use of the techniques Menzies has.
So that means their training programmes and their international standards for training, which will lift the quality of (the airport and) Oman Air as well.”
OAMC’s Al Hosni said, “It is important to operate at maximum efficiency as we gear up for the launch of the new Muscat International Airport Terminal.”
“The airport will also position the Sultanate as a modern and attractive hub for travellers transiting through the region,” he added.
According to OAMC statistics, total passenger traffic registered an 18 per cent rise, with 10,315,358 passengers in 2015, compared with 2014 at the Muscat International Airport; as well as a 15 per cent jump in the total number of flights to 95,116 in 2015.
By the end of 2015, a total of 33 airlines were operating from the Muscat International Airport.