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Edition 19 April 2010

Robbie 66 Flight Test / Durban Crash / Air AirOman / Crash Durban Airlink / Test Flight 66 Robbie Price: $4.50

HELIEXPO Edition 19 – Edition 2010 April

TURBINE ROBINSON R66 Airlines

Keith Oman Air Mwanalushi grows wings Oman Air is an ambassador to the young nation that is facilitating travel with a distinct touch of the county’s legendary tradition

m a n Air is It is worth noting that the Sultanate of Oman the flagship of was the last shareholder of the based the Sultanate of multinational airline, Gulf Air. Oman Air operated Oman’s aviation a number of code share flights with Gulf Air, sector. The airline however with national interest taking prominence, was established in other shareholders in the Gulf airline, including 1993 and its roots and , moved on to form their own can be traced back national airlines. Oman eventually parted company to a company called Oman International Services with Gulf Air in 2007 and in so doing, the Omani O(OIS) in the early 1970s.This was an aircraft handling government decided to transfer the investment it was services company based at the old Beit Al Falaj making in Gulf Air to Oman Air. airport in . The company later merged with In 2007, the airline announced several bold the former Gulf Air Light Aircraft Division. The ambitions that would raise the stakes by taking on result was the formation of a joint stock company the international market. During the middle of 2008, called Oman Aviation Service in 1981. the company ushered in its current Chief Executive Domestic services were launched using several Mr Peter Hill with the daunting task of overseeing Fokker F27s and Cessna Citation aircraft. Oman the airline’s transformation from a regional player to Aviation Services was subsequently renamed as a global carrier. Oman Air; the inaugural flight took off in March Mr Hill is an airline man who knows Middle 1993 to the domestic city of Salalah. The first Eastern aviation well. He spent a number of years international flight was to operating a leased occupying senior positions at , and was at 737-300 in July of the same year. the head of Sri Lankan Airlines. As an international During the next several years, the airline airline, Oman Air was positioned to fill the void left committed to developing a strong regional network by Gulf Air. The new business model also helped from its hub at Seeb International Airport, (presently the airline to move away from the shadow of the known as Muscat International). Major destinations more prominent Middle Eastern carriers such as in the Middle East were added, today the airline’s Emirates. highest frequency is the Dubai service with 38 In order to facilitate the strategic expansion, flights a week followed by Bahrain with 18 weekly an initial order was placed with Airbus for three departures. India and Bangladesh were also A330-300s and two A330-200s. In addition, two inaugurated during the carrier’s early development, new A330s were leased from India’s to connections to Europe were initially via code share facilitate the launch of the first international routes and block space agreements with Swiss Air and to London and . KLM. The first of the Airbus purchased aircraft was Current domestic operations are carried out an A330-200 delivered in September 2009. “We are by four ATR42-500s that have replaced older delighted with this aircraft. Not only is the A330 itself commuter turboprops. The workhorse of the Oman at the leading edge of civil aviation but the onboard Air fleet is the Next Generation 737, 15 are in use products are second to none. It is a milestone in the centred on the-800 version. The airline was the transformation of Oman Air,” says CEO Peter Hill. first commercial operator in the Gulf to purchase Barley a month later, the airline welcomed the Boeings newer version of the 737. The first delivery arrival of a new A330-300. The -300 introduced a was a 737-700 in December 2001. The 737s are flown new three class service whereas the -200 operates a on routes throughout the Middle East and the Indian dual class layout. Sub-continent. “The centrepiece on the A330-300 cabin is our new 30 500 Oman Air grows wings Main Pic: Oman A330 in old livery Inset: Oman Air was the first airline in the Middle East to operate the Next Generation 737 First Class ‘mini-suite’. We are very excited about bringing previous year. The company says the reasons for the losses this industry leading concept to our passengers,” adds Hill. was an increase in fuel price and the resultant expansion The First Class suite features a fully flat bed with a generous of its operations that includes new aircraft purchases, new 85-inch pitch. There is a 23-inch in-flight monitor that international routes and raising employee’s salaries. comes with a wireless handset and several USB and Ethernet Mr Hill is quick to point out how capital intensive and power plugs. Some very interesting in-flight gadgets have extremely competitive the airline business is. “New routes been installed; an eight point massage system is the most especially longhaul, take a few years to mature before stimulating. A sofa is strategically located for First Class they start yielding positive returns. We expect a return on passengers to relax and exchange small talk mid-flight. The investment at some stage, but this will not be tomorrow.” more unusual innovation is located in the washrooms. The In the meantime, the company is exploring further First Class toilets are the first on an aircraft to be fitted with expansion opportunities, not only in the air but with ground a bidet. There are only six suites fitted in the First Class operations too. Mr Hill mentioned possible plans to provide cabin. a new headquarters building plus associated structures The newly re-launched has 20 seats on the to accommodate general training, flight simulator and A330, featuring a four abreast 1-2-1 layout. It is a product cabin crew training. A new engineering facility, purpose similar to some other airlines first class offering. In-flight built to Oman Air’s requirements, will provide a four bay entertainment is delivered via a 17-inch video monitor aircraft hangar and associated workshops. The intention screen using the Thales 15000 system combined with the is to develop a Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Facility Rockwell Collins Tailwind platform 560 providing live TV, (MRO) with the capability of conducting third party work. with email, internet, mobile and laptop connectivity. The company’s engineering and maintenance division The Muscat based airline has invested heavily in its already provides technical services for several airlines premium products to match the growing reputation that including KLM, at its Muscat base.

MUSCAT AIRPORT This strong push for Muscat International Airport is undergoing a major phased expansion to ensure its growth is not constrained growth in a depressed for lack of adequate infrastructure. A new terminal is under construction, scheduled to be market comes at a operational in 2012, with a capacity to handle 12 million financial cost passengers annually. Oman Air is actively involved in the development and planning of the new facility, both Oman is receiving as an upmarket leisure and business as a prime airline customer and as a provider of ground destination. handling and catering services to other airlines. “Not only have we raised the bar in our premium Last year the airline recorded a 32% increase in cabins, a great deal of attention has been directed to the Available Seat Kilometres, a massive increase with a total economy cabin. Passenger comfort has been addressed by of nine aircraft joining the fleet. Three more A330s will be providing 34-inch pitch seating with three leg-rest positions delivered through the course of 2010. Passenger numbers and a four- way adjustable headrest. Each seat has a 10.6 are expected to reach 3 million this year and with the seat back video screen,” notes Hill. continued focus on point-to-point business, only 30% of European expansion is key to Oman Air’s growth strategy. traffic is transit. Following London, the airline launched service to Germany Aircraft delivery will continue in 2011 with the at the end of 2009. Operations include four weekly non- anticipated arrival of the four recently ordered Embrear stop flights from Muscat to and thrice weekly E-175 jets becoming the first in the gulf region to operate services into Munich. the type. An additional aircraft is slated for delivery to the Within a period of days, another service to - Royal Omani Police force. The newly ratified deal with Charles de Gaulle was launched operating four flights a Embraer also includes purchase rights for another five week. “Frankfurt, Munich and Paris were a prime target aircraft. The total value of the firm order at list price is in Europe. We are really excited about the prospects of US$177.5 million, a figure that could double if all purchase developing both business and tourist traffic on these new rights are converted. routes.” Six Boeing 787 Dreamliners will be taken on lease, Peter Hill continues, “We are confident that our foray originally anticipated from 2012, but the final delivery into the very competitive European segment will open up schedule cannot be confirmed. new markets for us. Oman Air’s expansion is designed to With regards to partnerships, a code share exists with run parallel with the sultanate’s strategy of positioning Emirates, but the airline is reportedly actively looking itself as an upmarket leisure destination.” at seeking long term partners that can cover parts of the The A330 has also been deployed on flights to Male’, network to ensure there is adequate feed. However, no capital of the Indian Ocean Islands of the Maldives. The alliance commitments are on the table at present. latest addition to the Oman Air network is Sri Lanka. The Peter Hill summed up by saying, “Our transformation is a Muscat – service operates daily with flights split result of sound strategic planning and long-term investment, between 737 and A330 equipment. and provides the foundation for further sustainable This strong push for growth in a depressed market growth over many years to come. It also provides an comes at a financial cost to the fledging airline. For 2008 the important element of Oman’s ongoing inward investment carrier went into the red compared to a profit reported the programme.” ¸ 3226 1 First Class toilets are the first on an aircraft to be fitted with a bidet

1. Four Embraer E-175 jets will enter service from 2011 2. ATR 42-500 displaying the former colour scheme. Photo - ATR 3. Oman Air Business Class 4. Oman Air CEO Mr Peter Hill 5. Oman Air A330-300 First Class 'Mini Suite'. Photo -Oman air

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