MUSCAT: Oman Air officially joined the oneworld alliance on Monday, marking a historic moment for both the airline and the Sultanate, making it the 15th member of one of the world's leading worldwide airline networks.
The move represents not only a new chapter for Oman Air, but also a milestone in the country's wider aim to establish itself as a globally linked economic and tourism center.
The announcement, made during a media briefing in Muscat attended by high-ranking officials from Oman Air and oneworld, concludes a hard two-year integration process.
For Oman Air, this marks the culmination of a daring transformation plan that places the carrier among the world's top airlines, providing seamless access to over 900 locations in 170 countries via a network of 2,700 aircraft.
But beneath the figures is a deeper story: one of ambition, precision, and strategic alignment. Oman Air, formerly a regional player, is now ready to harness the power of global collaborations, supercharge its loyalty offering, and reinvent the way Oman connects to the globe.
"This is a proud day not just for Oman Air, but also for the country of Oman," said Con Korfiatis, CEO of Oman Air.
"Joining oneworld is more than “a financial decision; it is a strategic alignment, a meeting of minds, and a significant leap forward for our global goals. “It strengthens our Sindbad loyalty programme, expands our network footprint, and provides our guests with smooth travel choices and world-class benefits. ”
A strategic step for a midsize airline
Korfiatis described Oman Air's entry as "transformative" and highlighted the intelligent strategy of joining a global alliance rather than expanding unilaterally.
"As a midsize airline surrounded by some of the world's largest carriers, we couldn't -- and shouldn't -- attempt to fly everywhere ourselves. oneworld provides us with immediate access to a worldwide footprint with a single strategic step. It's all about business power, systems integration, and delivering on Oman Vision 2040,” Korfiatis said.
Oman Air's oneworld membership provides easy booking alternatives, priority advantages, and frequent flyer reciprocity with other alliance members.
Guests can now earn and redeem miles throughout the network and enjoy almost 700 premium lounges worldwide, including new flagship lounges in Schiphol (Amsterdam) and Incheon (Seoul).
"From today, travellers from the US, Japan, Australia, and beyond can enjoy smooth connections into Oman," said Michael Rutter, Oman Air's Chief Commercial Officer. "Our 42 direct routes across 22 countries are now connected to 900 global destinations. " This is more than a symbolic moment; it represents a commercial milestone. We evaluated numerous alliances, but oneworld was obviously the greatest match.
Rutter emphasized improved links to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and North America, noting that the cooperation would help Oman’s inbound tourism and economic diversification ambitions.
"This partnership provides transformational access to the Far East and the Americas. “Oman Air today is a different airline than it was two years ago: fighting fit, commercially focused, and ready to compete globally. ”
The airline also stated that its soon nonstop Muscat–Amsterdam route (beginning 1 July 2025) and enhanced double-daily Muscat–London service are in accordance with oneworld's seamless connectivity objectives.
One alliance, one vision.
Nat Pieper, CEO of Oneworld, attended virtually from Dallas to congratulate Oman Air on its successful integration and to emphasize its strategic worth.
“Oman Air brings both award-winning service and unique geography to the oneworld table,” Pieper said. “Global alliances are particularly important for midsized airlines looking to spread their wings. ” "We are pleased to welcome Oman Air as our 15th member — and the perfect fit. "
Pieper emphasised the alliance's philosophy of "quality over quantity. ”
"Some alliances have more members, but oneworld's 15 airlines account for 94% of global air travel demand. " That's because we prioritise performance, alignment, and value rather than simply numbers. With 15 members, we have the ideal balance for effective cooperation and customer benefit. ”
The inclusion of Oman Air signifies a renewed commitment to regional cooperation, particularly with fellow oneworld members Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian.
"This isn't about competition. "It's about smart, cooperative growth," Pieper said. "oneworld is a permissive alliance. " Our members are welcome to collaborate with non-alliance partners as well. We support what is best for airlines, consumers, and profitability. ”
Korfiatis emphasised the complementary roles of Oman Air and its regional counterparts.
“Our differentiation is Oman itself. While others provide hub transits, we provide direct access to one of the world's most gorgeous and friendly locations. ”
Oman Air's Sindbad loyalty programme will also be improved by its alignment with oneworld, which will now offer reciprocal benefits with other oneworld carriers in the Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby tiers.
“This strengthens Sindbad, making it a truly global programme,” Korfiatis said. “In the next six months, you can expect to see even more improvements released. ”
Rutter also revealed the introduction of a new digital stopover program, which has sold 8,000 packages to date, allowing travelers to visit Oman before continuing their trips.
"We're investing in adventure tourism, MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), and stopovers as significant economic drivers. " “Oman Air is cooperating with Visit Oman and international operators to bring the world to Oman in innovative ways,” Rutter added.
"This isn't just a celebration—it's the beginning of a journey," says Korfiatis. "We're ready to fly farther, smarter, and together. "
