Salalah Air set to launch Oman's first ‘flying taxis’

Salalah: Salalah Air, Oman’s first private airline, plans to launch charter jet services in the Sulatanate.
The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer for the purchase of two aircraft for the purpose.
The two aircraft Phenom 300 and Legacy 450, are the first type of aircraft to be considered for ‘flying taxis’ in the Sultanate.
Sheikh Ali bin Masoud Keshob, member of the Board of Directors of Salalah Airlines Company, is optimistic about what the future may bring. “The project faced many challenges, being the first private airline in the Sultanate. Now we are actually in high demand and almost at the level where we can start. We will start with domestic charter operations and depending upon our licence upgrade, our regional and other broader operations would start. Our current focus, however, is to launch the operation first.”
“This kind of service is competitive and creates a lot of opportunities for investment. It will bring great benefits to the private sector in line with an in-depth and well-planned vision. The field of aviation is one of the complex areas that need a lot of discipline, organisation and accuracy and this is what we are keen on since the establishment of the company,” Keshob said. Salalah Air also signed a MoU several months ago with Canadian company Viking Air Ltd. for the purchase of two mixed-use aircraft, with a maximum passenger capacity of 19.
The airline will soon be completing its operations as the first private air carrier in the Sultanate to operate and deliver its diverse services in air transport between the various provinces and cities of the Sultanate.
The new services will focus on the movement of businessmen between the various industrial areas and tourist resorts.