Oman Air launches third daily flight from Muscat to Mumbai

Muscat: Oman Air, the Sultanate’s national carrier is now flying thrice a day to Mumbai, India. Launched on August 1 this year, the two hour 50 minute flight departs from Muscat at 22.40 hrs and arrives in Mumbai at 03.00hrs. The return flight leaves Mumbai at 04.05hrs and reaches Muscat at 05.15hrs. Oman Air already operates two daily return flights between Muscat and Mumbai— the outgoing flights depart Muscat at 01.20hrs and 9.00hrs, arriving in Mumbai at 05.40hrs and 13.20hrs, respectively. The returning flights leave Mumbai at 16.15hrs and 6.55hrs, reaching Muscat at 17.30hrs and 08.10hrs. Expected to prove popular The new time slot is expected to prove popular, especially with business travellers, who can now take an evening flight and reach their destination early next morning. Oman Air first launched flights to India in the 1990s and demand for seats has grown exponentially amongst both business and leisure passengers, not only increasing tourism traffic and revenue, but also promoting vital trade agreements between the two countries. The airline is growing its weekly capacity to India with frequencies increasing on five of the airline’s 11 key Indian destinations. Mumbai, Delhi and Hyderabad flight frequency has increased from twice daily to thrice daily. The Calicut flight frequency has been raised from once daily to thrice daily and for Lucknow from once daily to twice daily. This latest addition from Mumbai to Muscat increases the overall weekly frequency of flights to India from 154 to 161. Salalah-Calicut flight In addition, towards the beginning of the year the airline launched direct daily flights between Salalah and Calicut. Ths growth in capacity follows the revised Air Services agreement between the Government of Oman and India in December 2016, when the number of weekly seats was increased to 27,405 seats for both countries, compared with 21,145 seats in the previous agreement, reflecting an increase of 6,258 seats per week. Abdulrahman Al-Busaidy, deputy chief executive officer and chief commercial officer of Oman Air, said: “We are extremely happy to announce this new service between Muscat and Mumbai. The addition of this flight is part of our wider commitment to the Indian market. India is a key destination for Oman Air and demand for all 11 of our Indian destinations has always been high. Increased frequencies offer yet more choice and convenience to our guests, who will now be able to leave Muscat in the evening and arrive in Mumbai the following morning.” “We are sure this new service will prove just as popular as our other Indian routes.”