Oman Air has revealed major reductions in both its workforce and fleet as part of an extensive strategy to lower operational expenses.
The airline disclosed that it has parted ways with 1,100 employees, reducing its total personnel from approximately 4,300 to nearly 3,200. Con Korfiatis, the CEO of Oman Air, stated, “Our staffing levels were excessive compared to our fleet size, especially when juxtaposed with regional competitors and relevant industry benchmarks.”
Restructuring the Fleet
As part of its cost-cutting initiatives, Oman Air has decommissioned its complete fleet of 10 Airbus A330s and sold two of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft. The revised fleet now includes around 23 narrow-body jets, predominantly Boeing 737 MAX models, along with 10 Boeing 787-9s.
The airline has a cautious outlook for future expansion: it anticipates the addition of two more MAX jets, with one arriving this year and the other expected in the third quarter of 2026. Additionally, six Boeing 787s are planned to be incorporated into the fleet by 2027.
Shifting Strategy
Instead of directly competing with larger Gulf carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways, Oman Air is transitioning towards code-sharing agreements. “Our capacity has significantly improved from previously empty seats to achieving 70 percent occupancy following this shift in partnerships with other airlines,” Korfiatis noted.