Oman is moving to capture the global travel market in 2025, executing a powerful, two-pronged strategy that every travel agent should have on their radar.
Firstly, the Sultanate is not only becoming easier to access with Oman Air’s entry into the oneworld alliance this month, but it is also investing heavily in a diverse range of on-ground projects designed to create unforgettable visitor experiences.
Here’s a breakdown of what this means for travel agents and your clients.
A dual-hub strategy in the Gulf: more choices, greater flexibility
Oman Air’s oneworld membership establishes Muscat International Airport as the alliance’s second major Gulf hub, complementing Qatar Airways’ Doha hub.
This dual-hub setup unlocks benefits, including increased connectivity with more routing options and competitive pricing, as well as enhanced network access for seamless booking across both airlines’ comprehensive route networks.
New destinations and seamless perks for your clients
This partnership immediately unlocks new travel opportunities and ensures a consistent, premium experience for frequent flyers.
- Fresh destinations: Oman Air adds two exclusive destinations to the oneworld network: the regional airport of Khasab (KHS) in Oman, a gateway to the stunning Musandam fjords, and Lucknow (LKO) in India. This offers unique selling points for clients seeking new travel experiences.
- Reciprocal loyalty benefits: Your clients’ loyalty status will be recognised across the board. Members of any oneworld frequent flyer programme (such as British Airways’ Executive Club) will enjoy their tier benefits—including lounge access, priority boarding, and extra baggage—when flying with Oman Air. This consistency is a powerful tool for retaining high-value customers.
Lounges and alliance-wide upgrades
Beyond the network expansion, oneworld is doubling down on its commitment to the premium travel experience—a key differentiator for your discerning clients.
Elevating the ground experience
The alliance has recently launched its first-ever branded airport lounges in Amsterdam (AMS) and Seoul (ICN), with ambitions for further expansion in key markets like India. This signals a clear investment in providing a high-quality, consistent ground service that reflects well on all member airlines.
A game-changer for upgrades
A long-awaited, alliance-wide upgrade programme is nearing completion and expected to be finalised by the end of the year. This feature will allow a frequent flyer from any oneworld airline to use their miles to upgrade on any other member carrier.
For example, a client with a surplus of American Airlines AAdvantage miles could use them to upgrade on a Qantas or British Airways flight. This incredible flexibility provides enormous value and will be a highly attractive benefit for both business and leisure travellers. Seven of the 15 member airlines are already participating, with the rest set to join in the coming months.
A new era of Omani experiences
This newfound ease of access is perfectly timed with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism’s ambitious 2025 plan, which aims to radically enhance the country’s tourism offerings. The plan involves launching a major national strategy to diversify tourism and upgrade infrastructure across the country’s governorates, significantly boosting its appeal to visitors.
The ambitious plan introduces all sorts of experiences catering to different interests:
- For adventure seekers, this includes new Recreational Slides, Mountain Slopes Projects, and other Adventure Tourism Initiatives.
- Cultural and heritage tourism will be deepened through unique offerings such as an Aromatic Tourism project centred on Oman’s fragrance traditions, a Falaj Experience celebrating the ancient UNESCO-listed irrigation systems, and Recreational Fishing to connect visitors with the nation’s maritime life.
- Underpinning this is key infrastructure development, like the Al Ashkhara Gateway Project, and the overarching Great Oman Journey Experience, designed to offer a seamless and immersive trip across the country’s diverse landscapes and historic sites.
