Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
broken clouds
weather
OMAN
23°C / 23°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Oman Air begins Salalah-Calicut flight

965947
965947
minus
plus

By Kaushalendra Singh — SALALAH: March 26 - Oman Air’s much awaited direct flight from Salalah to the Indian state of Kerala kick-started on Sunday with an official launch ceremony at Salalah Airport amid presence of a large number of dignitaries and senior officials of Oman Air, Public Authority of Civil Aviation (PACA) and Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC).


The launch ceremony was held under the auspices of Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan bin Hamoud al Busaidy, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar. Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer Paul Gregorowitsch was also present on the occasion. The inaugural flight WY295 from Salalah to Calicut (Kozhikode) is scheduled at 12.40am from Monday.


Al Busaidi expressed happiness over the launch of direct flight to the Indian destination and hoped more such developments in near future to boost Salalah’s tourism and business potential.


The news of the launch of a daily flight from Salalah to Calicut by the national carrier is a mood elevator for around 45,000 Keralites living in Dhofar, as their options of travelling to Kerala has multiplied several times with Air India Express’ current service of two weekly flights to Cochin and Calicut.


Oman Air’s Salalah-Calicut flight is in addition to two flights currently operating between Muscat and Calicut. As per schedule the three-and-a-half hour Boeing 737-800 flight would depart Salalah at 12.40am and arrive in Calicut at 5.50am. The return flight will leave Calicut at 6.40am and arrive in Salalah at 8.40am.


Oman Air is growing its weekly capacity to India with frequencies increasing on five of the airline’s key Indian destinations. Bombay, Delhi and Hyderabad increase from twice daily to three times daily. Calicut increases from once daily to three times daily, and Lucknow increases from once daily to twice daily.


An elated Gregorowitsch called Dhofar and Salalah land of huge opportunity for aviation sector and hinted at more direct flights from Salalah to different sectors.


“Salalah stores huge business and tourism potential and Oman Air is committed to do the best possible to attract tourists from different parts of the world. Oman Air is committed to support the economic development of the Dhofar region, which is a key market for us. We are extremely


happy to announce this new direct service between Salalah and Calicut,” he said.


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon