The airline at present operates to 11 destinations in India, which is among the fastest growing market in the world.
Oman Air, the flagship carrier of Sultanate of Oman, expects to get operational break-even by end of 2017 and it is eyeing the Indian market to sustain the growth momentum.
The airline at present operates to 11 destinations in India, which is among the fastest growing market in the world.
The carrier, which has been running on government funds since its inception in 1993, will soon cease to get subsidises as the oil producing countries in the Middle East region are cutting their expenditure after the glut-induced crash in the oil market.
"Due to the change in the oil market, the dynamics are changing. We (Oman Air) will completely become a non-subsidised airline by 2018" said Paul Gregorowitsch, chief executive officer of Oman Air, during an event to celebrate the airline's 23rd anniversary in India.
"Indian economy is going great as well as its aviation market is among the fastest growing. With the new aviation policy being released by the Indian regime, we do not want to exclude ourselves from financial participation in any opportunity offered. It's not like we will put a blind cheque on the table, but will invest if we find the opportunity sustainable," Gregorowitsch added.
According to the industry insiders, as the oil prices continue to slide since around last couple of years, the fossil oil exporting nations have been forced to drive their economies towards other alternative sectors and prepare themselves for a future without oil economy.
At present more than 7,00,000 Indian nationals live in Oman. The two nations share a long history of trade in spices, which Oman has been importing since centuries. India also provided a large number of shipping vessels to the Oman which has a thriving fishing industry.
The airline currently has a fleet consisting of four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200S, five Boeing 737-900S, 18 Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700 and four Embraer 175s. Four more Boeing Dreamliners will be joining the fleet soon with total fleet expected to be around 70 aircraft by 2020 from 57 currently.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Paul Gregorowitsch")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}