Monday 30 / June / 2025
MUSCAT: In a move hailed as transformative for both the airline and the Sultanate, Oman Air on Monday officially joined the oneworld alliance, becoming the 15th member of one of the world’s premier global airline networks.
The development marks not just a new chapter for Oman Air but also a milestone in the country’s broader vision to position itself as a globally connected economic and tourism hub.
The announcement, made during a media briefing in Muscat attended by top executives from Oman Air and oneworld, caps a rigorous two-year integration effort.
For Oman Air, it signals the culmination of a bold transformation strategy — one that positions the carrier firmly among the world’s top-tier airlines, offering seamless access to over 900 destinations across 170 countries through a network of 2,700 aircraft.
But beyond the numbers lies a deeper story: one of ambition, precision, and strategic alignment. Oman Air, once a regional player, is now poised to leverage the power of global partnerships, turbocharge its loyalty offering, and reshape the way Oman connects with the world.
“This is a proud day not only for Oman Air but for the nation of Oman,” said Con Korfiatis, CEO of Oman Air.
“Joining oneworld is more than a commercial decision — it's a strategic alignment, a meeting of minds, and a major leap forward for our global ambitions. It strengthens our Sindbad loyalty programme, enhances our network footprint, and gives our guests seamless travel options and world-class benefits.”
A strategic step for a mid-sized airline
Describing Oman Air’s entry as “transformative,” Korfiatis emphasised the smart strategy behind joining a global alliance instead of expanding unilaterally.
“As a mid-sized airline surrounded by some of the largest carriers in the world, we couldn’t — and shouldn’t — try to fly everywhere ourselves. oneworld gives us immediate access to a global footprint in a single strategic step. This is about commercial strength, systems integration, and delivering on Oman’s Vision 2040,” Korfiatis added.
Oman Air’s oneworld membership opens up seamless booking options, priority benefits, and frequent flyer reciprocity with other alliance members. Guests can now accrue and redeem miles across the network and enjoy nearly 700 premium lounges worldwide, including new flagship lounges at Schiphol (Amsterdam) and Incheon (Seoul).
“From today, travellers from the US, Japan, Australia and beyond can enjoy smooth connections into Oman,” said Michael Rutter, Chief Commercial Officer of Oman Air. “Our 42 direct routes across 22 countries are now connected to 900 global destinations. This is not just a symbolic moment — it’s a business milestone. We dated many alliances, but oneworld was clearly the best fit.”
Rutter highlighted enhanced connectivity to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and North America, adding that the alliance would support Oman’s inbound tourism and economic diversification goals.
“This partnership means transformational access to the Far East and the Americas. Oman Air today is a different airline from two years ago — fighting fit, commercially focused, and ready to compete globally.”
The airline also reaffirmed that its upcoming non-stop Muscat–Amsterdam route (launching 1 July 2025) and expanded double-daily Muscat–London service align with oneworld’s seamless connectivity goals.
One alliance, one vision
Nat Pieper, CEO of oneworld, joined virtually from Dallas, congratulating Oman Air on its successful integration and praising its strategic value.
“Oman Air brings both award-winning service and unique geography to the oneworld table,” Pieper said. “Global alliances are especially crucial for mid-sized airlines looking to spread their wings. We are proud to welcome Oman Air as our 15th member — and the right fit.”
Pieper emphasised the alliance’s philosophy of “quality over quantity”.
“Some alliances have more members, but oneworld’s 15 airlines cover 94% of global air travel demand. That’s because we focus on performance, alignment, and value —not just numbers. With 15 members, we have just the right balance for meaningful collaboration and customer benefit.”
The addition of Oman Air comes with renewed commitment to regional cooperation, especially with fellow oneworld members Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian.
“This isn’t about competition. It’s about smart, cooperative growth,” Pieper noted. “oneworld is a permissive alliance. Our members are free to work with non-alliance partners too. We encourage what's best for airlines, customers and profitability.”
Korfiatis echoed this sentiment, highlighting the complementary roles of Oman Air and its regional peers.
“Our differentiation is Oman itself. While others offer hub transits, we offer direct access to one of the world’s most stunning and welcoming destinations.”
The alignment with oneworld will also enhance Oman Air’s Sindbad loyalty programme, which will now offer reciprocal benefits with other oneworld carriers under Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby tiers.
“This strengthens Sindbad, making it a truly global programme,” Korfiatis confirmed. “In the next six months, expect to see even more enhancements rolled out.”
Rutter also announced the launch of a new digital stopover programme, which has already sold 8,000 packages, allowing travellers to explore Oman before continuing their journeys.
“We’re investing in adventure tourism, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions), and stopovers as a key economic driver. Oman Air is working with Visit Oman and global operators to bring the world to Oman in new ways,” Rutter said.
“This isn’t just a celebration — it’s the beginning of a journey,” said Korfiatis. “We’re ready to fly farther, smarter, and together.”
