Oman Air seeks to impose fuel surcharge

MANILA, Philippines - Oman Air has filed a petition before the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) seeking to impose a fuel surcharge for its flights between Manila and Muscat.

The designated carrier of the Sultanate of Oman is set to impose a fuel surcharge of $160 for each business class passenger and $130 for each economy class passenger for the Manila-Muscat route.

Manila became Oman Air’s 44th international destination when the airline started flying between Manila and Muscat last Dec. 2. It currently flies between the two destinations three times a week.

Oman Air chief executive officer Paul Gregorowitsch said the airline is looking at mounting daily flights to the Philippines to accommodate the growing number of passengers, particularly Filipinos living and working in the Middle East.

“We are highly confident that we can not only operate three times or four times a week but the daily operations will be having an economic viability,” he said.

Gregorowitsch pointed out that the airline expects high load factor during the Christmas season.

“The season holidays are up coming and many people from the Philippines working and living in the Middle East are using this opportunity to take advantage of our attractive fares,” he added.

The official said there are about 33,000 Filipinos working and living in Oman.

According to Gregorowitsch, the airline wants to initially increase the service four weekly flights to Manila and to a daily service including other airports in the Philippines.

“This would soon be expanded given the bilateral agreements and approvals from the government of the Philippines to travel daily between Manila and Muscat. We also need the approval from the government here in the Philippines and we hope they will recognize the investment made by Oman Air,” he added.

He explained that the airline is in the middle of an ambitious refleeting program to increase the number of aircraft to about 55 from 30 over the next three years.

“The expanded fleet will enable Oman Air to offer customers a greater choice of destinations, increased frequencies on established routes, and more convenient connections at Muscat International Airport,” he said.

The Muscat airport provides a wide range of outstanding onward connections to destinations across the Middle East, East Africa and Europe.