Muscat: SalamAir, the budget airline of Oman, has announced the expansion of its network to include two new destinations in India—Bengaluru (Bangalore) and Mumbai. This strategic move marks an increase in SalamAir's total number of Indian destinations to eight, catering to the burgeoning demand for travel between India, Oman, and the GCC region.
Beginning on September 2nd, flights to Mumbai will be available four times weekly, and from September 6th, services to Bengaluru will be provided on a bi-weekly schedule. Initial one-way fares for these new routes start at OMR 19 for Mumbai and OMR 33 for Bengaluru, under the "Light Fare" category, which includes a 7kg allowance for hand luggage. Passengers are also afforded the opportunity to personalize their journey with options such as meals, additional baggage, and travel insurance.
This expansion is a pivotal element of SalamAir's strategy to consistently offer competitively priced fares and to broaden travel options for its customers. The "Light Fare" model enables travelers to optimize their budget by selecting only the services they require, thereby achieving substantial savings while exploring new destinations.
Adrian Hamilton-Manns, the CEO of SalamAir, has expressed, "The Indian subcontinent holds significant importance for us, and we are dedicated to fortifying our connections and providing accessible travel solutions. We are delighted with our expansion into Mumbai and Bengaluru, in addition to the recently inaugurated routes to Delhi, Chennai, Islamabad, and Lahore. This growth is in harmony with Oman Vision 2040 and furthers our strategic objectives."
Furthermore, in support of the Khareef season, SalamAir has enhanced its connectivity to Sohar, Fujairah, Baghdad, and Bahrain, leading to a 9% increase in capacity to Salalah during the same period as 2023.
With these new additions, SalamAir now operates in eight Indian cities, including Delhi, Calicut, Chennai, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. In July, the airline witnessed a 24% increase in operational capacity compared to June. The expansion strategy has resulted in a 14% growth in operations within India and a 29% increase in Pakistan compared to the preceding periods. SalamAir has also introduced new seasonal routes linking Sohar, Fujairah, Baghdad, and Bahrain to Salalah, in addition to operating direct flights to Baku, Almaty, Tirana, and Trabzon.
