OMAN AIR: OneWorld Alliance membership pushed out to 2025
We were expecting Oman Air to join the OneWorld alliance in 2024, and then that was made ‘late 2024. Now, membership will not occur until 2025. OneWorld is offering no indication of whether that will be early or late in the year.
Having just booked a trip to Europe with Oman Air in mid-2024, I hope membership happens sooner rather than later!
Oman Air, based in Muscat, will join the OneWorld alliance, which already has a good representation of Arabic-speaking members. Those include Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, and Royal Air Maroc.
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Delay for new members not unusual
Joining an alliance is a complex business. It usually involves a range of software and booking IT integration that is not easy or straightforward. That’s usually where the delays come in. Its standard from the process of integrating to take 12 to 24 months.
Oneworld is due to welcome a larger than normal group of airlines in the coming months, including Fii Airways, Oman Air, and possibly Hawaiian as part of its amalgamation with Alaska Airlines. Starlux the luxury airline of Taiwan is also rumoured to be joining, although no one seems clear about what the view of this will be from founding member and competitor Cathay Pacific.
About Oman Air
Oman Air is a small Middle Eastern airline compared to Emirates or Qatar Airways. It flies to 20 countries and 41 destinations. It doesn’t fly into Australia, so you need to pick up flights from Bangkok, Thailand, or Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
They recently streamlined their fleet, dropping their squad of Airbus A330s. Their fleet now comprises largely Boeing 787-8 and -9 Dreamliners and a range of 737 models, including 8s, 900s, and MAX8s.
Their business class on the Dreamliner is most notable for its superb Apex suites, which allows them to run a 2-2-2 cabin but with all seats having aisle access. Oman Air no longer offers First Class, but has turned some of its former First Class 1-2-1 doored cabins into ‘Business Mini Suites’ on the 787-9s
“The partnership with Oman Air is an exciting expansion to the program and will unlock tens of thousands of reward seats to places like London, Paris, Frankfurt and Milan each year.”
Andrew Glance, Qantas Loyalty CEO
2PAXfly Takeout
Oneworld is promising an update on new members imminently. Breath-holding is not advised.
Qantas has just advised of the ability to redeem Qantas points for Oman Air flights. If I were you, I’d take advantage of that.
I’ve flown on roughly 8 long haul sectors with Oman Air in Business Class on their 787-8 and 787-9s, as well as their former A330 fleet. The A330s are no longer in service with Oman as part of a business consultant slimming of the airline which has roughly halved its long-haul fleet. Oman Air used to have a total of 10 A330s and nine 787 family aircraft. That halving of its long haul fleet explains why they are deploying some of their 13 Boeing 737 MAX 8s on routes between Muscat and European destinations.
I was booked on one of these flights, but I missed the ‘pleasure’ of an 8-hour flight with only recliners in business class because they dropped Zurich as a European destination. Mind you, the replacement fight between Muscat and Milan, Italy, only had less than 20 passengers!
As I said earlier, I am booked to fly with them in 2025, and I am looking forward to it. Comfortable seats, good mattress pads, and Middle Eastern hospitality work for me. Bring on the Arabic coffee and dates.
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