Oman Airports at World Routes 2015
Oman Airports once again has joined the “The largest and most prestigious event in the Routes portfolio”, World Routes 2015, this time held in Durban, hosted by the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, marking it as the first time World Routes takes place in Africa, contributing a big and new frontline for growth.
Oman Airports Management Company has been a platinum sponsor for the strategy Summit for the second time in a row, held on the 19th of September to the 22nd of September 2015. Oman Airports’ delegation was led by Sheikh Aimen bin Ahmed Al Hosni, the CEO of Oman Airports Management Company, alongside the Airline Marketing team from the Commercial department and Oman Airports’ Media/PR representatives. Oman Airports Management Company gladly received an appreciation award from UBM World routes organizers, acknowledging Oman Airports for their constant support and contribution to the World Routes Strategy summit.
The World Routes Strategy Summit brought together the top leading aviation experts opening up structured panel discussions, “addressing route development issues and drive future aviation strategy”. The heated discussions were based on topics related to “challenges of the next ten years”, “state of the industry”, “Airline Challenges and growth concerns”, “how to attract more passengers and tourists” and other important related themes.
Furthermore, the Airline Marketing team held important and successful face to face meetings with targeted Airlines network managers, where both sides discussed potential possibilities in either adding new frequencies or implementing new routes to Oman Airports, including Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and Duqm airports. According to Kimmo Ruotsalainen, Head of Sales and Marketing, meetings consisted of existing clients and prospects in the Middle Eastern & African region such as Emirates, Etihad, Fly Dubai and Qatar Airways as well as European carriers such as British Airways, Swiss and KLM Air France. Oman Airports’ key target markets are the Middle Eastern, Gulf, and South Asian markets, as well as further connecting African and Far East in the future.
Oman Airports are looking forward to build direct routes with African carriers and partner with Oman Air to enhance the Muscat hub connectivity. Oman Airports aims to have a couple of new airlines to start operating to MCT during this year and more is planned to commence in 2016. Oman Airports and Oman Air have a close relationship and are working together to strengthen the transfer traffic via Muscat hub.
Oman Airports’ focused at World Routes to enhance the relationships with existing airlines, and to develop relations with African carriers for new potential opportunities. Oman Airport’s long term goal is to connect Africa and Asia (specifically China) as well as Asia and Europe. The traffic at Muscat international Airport and Salalah airport is growing double digits, as Oman Airports expect nearly 10 million passengers in Muscat international Airport and up to 1 million passengers in Salalah Airport. Furthermore, Oman Airports is committed to promote the Sultanate of Oman as a destination and attract inbound tourists from by improving the accessibility to Oman. In addition, for the first time in history, Muscat International Airport celebrates 1,000,000 passengers in the month if August 2015.