Oman Air has reached a major milestone in its strategic rightsizing initiative, a key component of its broader transformation aimed at enhancing financial resilience and long-term sustainability. Over the past 18 months the airline has worked closely with stakeholders to responsibly manage the process of rightsizing its workforce to align with industry benchmarks and its ongoing strategic requirements. As part of the programme, Oman Air has offered a variety of options for affected employees including severance packages, priority access to vacancies within the company and sector, and dedicated job placement support.
Ensuring that its journey towards long-term profitability is balanced with a strong commitment to employee welfare, the airline has invested around OMR 15 million in severance packages to provide those affected with financial security. Meanwhile, due to the reduction of its expatriate workforce by 487 to replace them with Omanis, the company has increased its Omanisation rate to 79.4%, compared to 74.8% in 2023 – demonstrating its dedication to developing and retaining Omani professionals and ensuring that national talent continues to play a central role in the company’s future.
To date, of the 415 employees identified as surplus, 74 have been successfully redeployed within the airline and 87 have been offered roles across the broader aviation ecosystem, while 293 have opted for severance packages ranging from 12-24 months. The company remains engaged with the Ministry of Labour and the Union to explore suitable outcomes for the remaining employees who have not yet opted for any of the available options.
“Oman Air has immense potential to contribute to national socio-economic development. However, financial challenges have severely constrained this ability. Beyond financial restructuring, this transformation is about building the right capabilities to compete effectively in a highly complex and competitive market, create long-term value for the country and establish a strong foundation for sustainable success,” said Con Korfiatis, Oman Air’s Chief Executive Officer. “A key priority throughout has been supporting our people, and we are proud that a significant number of employees whose roles were impacted have been successfully redeployed within the company or across the aviation sector. We remain committed to building an airline that will not only strengthen Oman’s aviation sector but also have a lasting positive impact on the country and future generations of Omani citizens.”
