Oman government acquires budget airline SalamAir

The Omani government has completed the acquisition of SalamAir, the Gulf state’s first low-cost airline.

The move is part of the government’s ongoing initiatives to develop a sustainable national aviation sector, the state-run Oman News Agency reported. No financial details were given.

The plan was first mooted last month, with transport minister Said Al Maawali clarifying that there would be “no operational merger”.

The state-owned Oman Air and SalamAir will continue to operate as completely independent brands and maintain their operational identities.

Al Maawali said the acquisition aims to minimise overlap in the two companies’ destination networks, ensure optimal fleet utilisation and expand air connectivity between Oman and the region. 

This will, in turn, enhance operational efficiency and provide travellers with wider options, he said.

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Al Maawali added that the move is expected to improve the financial solvency of the two airlines and secure cost-effective ground services.

AGBI reported in January that Oman was trying to attract private capital into its aviation sector as part of a 15-year strategy to improve connectivity and modernise infrastructure.

The National Aviation Strategy 2040 aims to draw more than OMR1 billion ($2.6 billion) in cumulative private-sector investment.

The 2040 targets include handling more than 40 million passengers, transporting about 1 million tonnes of air cargo and raising the sector’s contribution to GDP to more than 3.5 percent.