Oman Air wants open skies with India; open to invest in local carrier

Airline flies 126 weekly flights to 11 Indian cities but has a smaller fleet compared to Emirates and Etihad

Oman Air wants the Indian government to implement an 'open skies' policy, one enabling the Gulf carrier to start unlimited flights to this country, said its chief executive officer, Paul Gregorowitsch.

Oman Air is also open to invest in  an Indian air carrier after the recent relaxation of the foreign direct investment rules.   

However, it is not in discussion with any Indian entity “Our first priority is to grow (our) airline and make it profitable,” he said.

Oman Air has 126 weekly flights to 11 Indian cities but has a smaller fleet and limited network compared to big Gulf carriers such as Emirates or Etihad. The airline is seeking additional traffic rights to India and will make a formal proposal in August.

At present, carriers from India and Oman can offer up to a total of 21,000 seats a week between the two countries. Gregorowitsch said the airline would like to increase weekly flights to  175 by 2018 and is seeking an increase in weekly entitlement to 29,000 by 2018.  Their focus would be to add frequencies at existing destinations in India, instead of opening new ones.

“India is an extremely important market for us. Oman and India enjoy a close and historic relationship, and Indian air travellers have played an important part in Oman Air’s success,” he said.

In the civil aviation policy announced last week, the government decided to allow 'open skies' with countries beyond 5,000 km.

“India would benefit if the government lifts trade barriers and I am confident these will be lifted over the next few years,” said Gregorowitsch.