Air France launches direct flights to Muscat in boost for tourism

PROMISING START: France is an important source market for tourists spending their holidays in the Sultanate

BUSINESS REPORTER

MUSCAT, Oct 24

Boding well for the recovery of Oman’s pandemic-impacted tourism and hospitality industry, Air France has launched direct flights between Paris and Muscat for the first time.

Top officials of Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, as well as Oman Airports, hosted a celebratory reception to mark Air France’s maiden direct flight.

The carrier will operate three flights per week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday), as part of a significant ramp-up of operations to a number of world capitals.

Air France is deploying a Boeing 787 aircraft offering a total of 279 passenger seats distributed across the Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy class segments.

France is an important source market for tourists spending their holidays in the Sultanate. Around 68,000 visitors from France traveled to Oman for leisure and holidays in 2019.

Passengers from Oman can also use Air France to reach Paris before boarding an extensive selection of carriers to fly elsewhere into Europe. Air France, and alliance partners of the SkyTeam alliance, also offer connections to a wide range of destinations in North and South America.

In a statement, Samer bin Ahmed al Nabhani, CEO – Commercial Operations Unit, Oman Airports, said the new service will boost travel from France and Europe into the Sultanate.

“Oman Airports welcomes all local and international airlines in line with the efforts of the teams concerned with marketing our airports because they are important regional and international destinations,” said Al Nabhani.

“We offer the highest health and safety standards in accordance with the precautionary procedures in place by the competent authorities and harmonise them to provide all that would ensure a safe and smooth travel experience for all users of Oman Airports during the current period under the protocols and standards of travel adopted internationally.”

Following the lifting of travel restrictions around the world, Air France recently announced a major reopening of its network while also increasing capacity for the winter season (October 2021 – March 2022).

As many as 182 destinations will be served (87 on long haul and 95 on short and medium-haul, with new routes launched on all continents.