Friday 26 / April / 2024
Muscat: As part of its ongoing efforts to provide a seamless experience for passengers at Muscat International Airport, Oman Air, the Sultanate’s national carrier, is coming up with several plans this year.
This includes a fast-track iPad check-in for economy class passengers with no baggage, automated self-check in services, world-class spa facilities as well as better security measures such as iris scan check-in methods.
The move comes in as a means to enhance the already seamless experience of the passengers since the inception of the new passenger terminal of the Muscat International Airport.
Talking exclusively to Times of Oman, Saleem Amanulla, Senior Vice President (SVP) of Ground Operations at Oman Air shared the future plans of the national carrier with regards to passengers and services at the airport.
Q: Is there anything new coming up for economy class passengers?
We are going to start iPad check-in facility for the economy class passengers, and it will be introduced in early September. People with no baggage standing in the queue at the Muscat International Airport will be picked out by the officials who will be queue-combing the waiting lines of the economy passengers. They will then do an online check-in on their iPads so the passengers do not have to wait for long in the queue if they don’t have any baggage.
We are obviously encouraging people to go for an on-line check-in as we already have designated counters like D1 and D2 at the Muscat International Airport for online check-in passengers where all they need to do is a bag drop-off.
Q: How has the journey changed for the passengers since the inauguration of the Airport?
The journey for economy class passengers have already enhanced with the new airport. Economy class passengers have options of hiring a porter service. They can get in touch with TAV or Prime Class, who are the vendors offering this service. Moreover, we are also enhancing our offering with a valet service for all passengers at a certain cost. In this regard, we are working with the concerned company to see if we can provide this to our passengers at a very low cost as a package deal.
Q: What are the current areas of importance where we can see new initiatives coming up?
At the moment, there is a lot of emphasis on the ground product which is the journey of the guest from the aircraft to land side and from the land side to the aircraft.
Oman Airports is also looking at the infrastructure for providing check-in facilities like self-tagging baggage and self-check-in so people don’t need any human interaction. The way the industry is moving, people like the convenience of app-based services or interaction with a robot rather than human interaction.
There are going to be some experiments from September for testing eye scan-based procedures. A guest who is already registered will have his eyes scanned and check in process initiated. If there is any excess baggage, you can pay it with your credit card. There will be no human interaction at all. That functionality is not too far away, as I see it.
Q: Could you please tell us about the premium class service that is offered at the airport?
For Premium Class passengers, when the guest arrives, there is a porter service available for Oman Air guests. The guests are assisted with their baggage and taken to the designated check in area for Oman Air premium class guests, ensuring an effortless check-in process. Then there is a specialized immigration and security counters premium airline passengers. And finally, they arrive at Oman Air’s luxurious premium lounges that have won many international awards where the guests can relax, refresh and indulge in a wide variety of culinary delights , which is going to be enhanced with further services now. We are also expanding our lounge to accommodate 80 more guests.
Q: Is there anything new coming for the first and business class passengers?
We have an infrastructure built for a spa service with real time steam and saunas. There is also massage chairs and Moroccan bath. Lately, we have signed the letter of intent with perhaps the best available spa company in Oman that serves a five star hotel and the brand comes from Far East. The services will be started in three months time and it would be a phase transition.
Q: Would the economy class passengers be able to use the spa facilities at a cost?
We are working on pay-as you-go-model. It is currently there for upgrades that we offer both at the airport and online. So, if you have an economy ticket at a subsidized rate, depending on how many seats are available on that point in time, we have a set rate of upgrading to all sectors. So, we are enhancing the model to further offer services at right price.
So, yes, lounge is a part of it. But it won’t be just be for the spa but a lounge package as a whole. If you buy a lounge package and add on the spa then you will avail it. Therefore, that privilege will be available for all.
