Oman’s SalamAir believes transporting pilgrims could generate huge revenue

The Gulf-based airline has chosen second-tier cities like Sialkot and Multan due to their trade potential

LAHORE: SalamAir - a recent addition to Pakistan’s air carriers - seeks to generate business by transporting pilgrims for religious rituals.

The six-month-old airline has chosen second-tier cities like Sialkot and Multan as its target for transporting passengers to Muscat thrice a week.

Muscat will serve as a fast transit city for the final destination of Pakistani passengers in Jeddah as the airline believes that transporting pilgrims for Hajj, Umrah and other religious places from Pakistan could generate a huge business for the airline.



The airline’s decision to choose Sialkot as its first destination is due to the trade potential the city provides for Oman and the rest of the world.

Adressing a press conference Tuesday, SalamAir Chief Executive Officer Francois Bouteiller said, “We have introduced an innovative approach to travel on new routes to and from Pakistan as we offers affordable and quality service.”

He said Sialkot and Multan routes would also facilitate onward journeys through the airline’s regular service to Jeddah and Madina in Saudi Arabia, to Dubai and to Salalah in the south of Oman.

In addition to its existing route network, the airline will be launching seasonal travel options including flights from Muscat to Taif during Ramazan and additional services to Madina in the holy month. The airline will also increase its flights to Salalah during the popular monsoon season.

“I am confident the increased connectivity provided by SalamAir on these currently under-served routes will strengthen trade relations between Pakistan and Oman,” said SalamAir Chairman Khalid Al Yahmadi.

“The flights will promote business and leisure travel between Pakistan and Oman, serving in particular needs of the Sultanate’s vibrant Pakistani expatriate community, currently over 220,000,” he added.

Additionally, the new services will facilitate travel for Omanis keen to explore business possibilities in Pakistan’s booming economy, particularly the wealth of opportunities presented by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

“For its part, Pakistan’s business community will be able to capitalise on Oman’s investor-friendly regulatory framework and the many lucrative commercial options for Oman’s diversifying economic base, which include tourism, manufacturing, fisheries, mining and logistics,” Yahmadi added.

The airline kicked off its operations from Sialkot on May 17 and flights from Multan began on May 23. In coming months, the management will add Karachi as its third destination from Pakistan.

According to the management, one-way fares start from Rs9,900, but depending on demand the rates may fluctuate.



Launched in 2016, SalamAir is Oman’s first budget carrier. Initiated by ASAAS, a national investment and development company, SalamAir has been set up to meet Oman’s rapidly increasing demand for air traffic at affordable prices and generate further opportunities for employment and business creation within various sectors in the Arab nation.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2017.

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