Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and Oman Air have joined hands to provide career development training for 500 Omani staff of Oman Air. As part of this initiative, an Open Day was organized on 8 May at the Golden Tulip hotel in Muscat, which saw a good turn out of prospective candidates. Through various recruitment procedures, 120 Ramp Services recruits were selected to receive intensive training, for four different Ramp Services positions within Oman Air. A second group of 100 customer services agents, who are already employed by Oman Air, will receive training soon afterwards.

PDO will support the training of 400 Oman Air recruits in a range of disciplines, including English language, work ethics, health and safety and mathematics, and ground services such as customer relations and baggage handling. Those who successfully complete the training will receive a diploma verified by IATA.

The initiative aims to enhance the performance of existing staff and create a pool of well-trained Omani citizens available to meet future employment needs across a range of roles within the aviation sector. Whilst improving English language skills, the training for the jobseekers will also help to achieve national targets for Omanisation. Current and potential employees of Oman Air will be eligible to apply for the training.

Raoul Restucci, Managing Director at PDO, added: “As His Majesty has pointed out, economic diversification is vital to the ongoing success of Oman and PDO wants to do all it can to support this aim. That is why we will increasingly devote more effort to go beyond our natural boundaries of oil and gas to support the creation of more job and training and opportunities for Omanis in other sectors of the economy. PDO is pleased to be working with our valued partners at Oman Air to deliver training as part of our In-Country Value initiative. This will help both Oman Air and PDO to employ even more Omani citizens and achieve higher rates of Omanisation. PDO is committed to assisting the training and development of young Omanis, enhancing the career prospects of new recruits. In doing so, we will together build a sustainable pool of qualified candidates who can meet future employment needs within Oman Air and the wider aviation sector. This is the first project of its type that PDO has extended support within the aviation sector, demonstrating our commitment to adding value to the national Omanisation target beyond the Oil and Gas sector.”