Oman Air and SalamAir announced earlier this week [1^st October] that they had entered a codeshare partnership to offer customers ‘enhanced connectivity’ between the Sultanate and five international destinations.

The agreement came into effect in tandem with the opening of airports in Oman on the 1^st of October, and connects Muscat with the cities of Chittagong, Dhaka, Sialkot, Multan and Khartoum.

This new agreement will see Oman Air incorporating its “WY” flight code on SalamAir flights to these destinations.

Tickets can be purchased through Oman Air’s website or registered travel agencies.

An Oman News Agency (ONA) report quoted Oman Air CEO, Abdulaziz Al Raisi, as saying: “We are proud and delighted with our new partnership with Salam Air. This codeshare agreement will make it so much easier for our guests to travel through our Muscat hub to cities in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sudan.

“This opens up exciting new opportunities for our customers across the network to enjoy seamless travel to these destinations and enjoy a rich world of opportunities for vacations and business travel.

“We also look forward to welcoming guests from these nations and sharing our renowned Omani hospitality.”

SalamAir’s CEO, Captain Mohamed Ahmed was quoted as saying that the commencement of the new partnership would offer new opportunities for passengers of both airlines.

He added: “We are delighted to be welcoming Oman Air’s passengers on board our SalamAir international services from Muscat to Chittagong, Dhaka, Sialkot, Multan and Khartoum, offering them access to best destinations and a flavor of our wonderful Omani hospitality even before they reach their final destination.

“We are extremely proud of this new codeshare, which yet again proves testament to our commitment to our passengers in offering an ever-expanding network as well as great connectivity.

“I am also sure that this phase of the partnership with Oman Air is only the first step and we will continue to look to implement more travel opportunities for the customers of both airlines when the opportunities arise.”

Are You Eligible To Visit Oman?

News of this alliance comes as a welcome move as Oman looks to quickly establish Muscat as a travel hub for passengers.

Recently, the Sultanate was listed as an air travel bubble by India for international flights; however, this solely applies to Indian citizens residing in Oman, OCI cardholders holding Omani passports and Omani nationals, including diplomats who hold visas issued by Indian mission in any category covered under Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

It must be noted that only Omani citizens and residents with valid IDs are permitted to re-enter the Sultanate without prior registration at Oman’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Strict safety and social distancing rules apply at the nation’s airports, and mandatory PCR tests will be conducted on those re-entering the country. The tests can be booked online prior to one’s travel to avoid long waiting times at the airport.

Passengers can also receive the certificate of their PCR test, approved by the Ministry of Health, at the same drive through location at Muscat International Airport parking for a price of RO5.

Sources: ONA, Oman Air