Oman Air mulling alliances, codeshare pacts to target US and Southeast Asia

Sultanate of Oman’s national carrier Oman Air is seeking to expand its international network further. The airline recently announced that it wants to start flights to U.S. and Southeast Asia and is mulling codeshare agreements and alliances with leading international carriers.

Wayne Pearce, a top official of Oman Air, said that the Muscat-based carrier is eying U.S. market and wants to enter into an alliance with an existing player in the aviation market. However, he said that the alliance needn’t be necessarily with a U.S.-based carrier.

Pearce said that the airline is currently studying the key transatlantic route and wants to build its alliances based on this.

Oman Air in a statement said that it is ready to negotiate with one of the major European carriers having a big network.
 
The airline is presently into tie-up with three codeshare partners – Emirates Airline, BMI and Malaysia Airlines.
   
Oman Air disclosed its net passenger revenue increased by 28 percent over the first five months of this year, as compared to the same period in 2011. Its passenger numbers also increased by 19 percent.