Oman Air has debuted its all-economy 189-seat Boeing 737 Max aircraft to Kozhikode and Lucknow to meet the high demand for travel.
The two Indian cities are among the first to be served by the all economy aircraft which will be part of the airline’s sub-fleet Oman Air Connect.
The first of the five Boeing 737 Max in all-economy configurations entered service this month. The airline plans to deploy these planes on routes to Indian sub continent, Africa and within West Asia.
Until now the two Indian destinations were served from Muscat with Boeing 737 planes with 162 or 183 seats in dual class configuration.
Increasing competition
Oman Air flies 96 flights per week to ten Indian cities and its move comes amid increasing competition and changing travel patterns. While airlines are operating ten per cent fewer flights between India and Oman compared to the last year, overall capacity to the West Asia region is higher by 5 per cent. Air India Express, Akasa Air and IndiGo added flights mainly to Abu Dhabi and Dammam.
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Sources said loads on flights from Muscat to Kozhikode and Lucknow are in the high 80s or even upwards of 90 per cent. Demand on these routes is driven by visiting friends and relatives, religious or medical tourism segments. Operating an 189 aircraft will thus allow Oman Air to meet the demand and offer competitive fares. The airline will continue to offer complimentary meals and drinks keeping its service level intact on the aircraft.
“The way people travel has evolved, with greater accessibility and choice; at the same time, passengers still want to enjoy a comfortable journey. With this all-economy fleet, we are adapting to these changing needs, providing our guests with more flexibility and choice without compromising on quality,” Oman Air’s CEO Con Korfiatis said in a statement.
Oman Air is also preparing to introduce upgraded in-flight entertainment, ensuring a more modern and engaging onboard experience, it said.