We at Oman Air always believe that perfection isn’t a goal or an aspiration but rather a way of life. It’s simply achieved by the way we conduct our business practices day after day and achieve not only a perfect on time departure will travel on board one of the world’s youngest fleet.

It is this daily pursuit of clockwork precision that have enabled us to achieve numerous awards from certified bodies such as Skytrax, The Malaysian Berhad, OCIPED, World Travel Awards etc.

Even though we treasure and appreciate each and every single award we receive some of the ones that stand out and make are day are as follow:

-          We won the Gold Award in the Best First Class Female Amenity Bag category, the Gold Award for Best In-flight Amenity and the Silver Award for Best First Class Male Amenity Bag at the TravelPlus Airline Amenity Bag Awards (2010)

-          Oman Air was awarded the title “Best Airline Worldwide 2011”. The survey was conducted by the travel magazine REISE & PREISE (a Germany based magazine).

-          We were awarded the ‘Best Business Class Airline, Middle East’ during the highly prestigious Business Destinations Travel Awards (2012)

-          Skytrax name us as the winner of their “World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat” award (2011 & 2012)

-          Our training centre has been awarded a place in the IATA’s Middle East 2012 Top Ten Authorized Training Centre listing for two years in a row

-          Named as ‘Middle East’s Leading Airline, Economy Class’ by the World Travel Awards. (2013)

But more than these awards, we always believe that we get an award every day when your flight leaves and arrives on time. So thank you for choosing Oman Air, it’s your feedback that helps us grow as Oman’s national airline.

Separated from the rest of Oman by the east cost of the UAE, Musandam is a land of beautiful Khors (bays) and is dubbed the “Norway of Arabia”, small villages and amazing mountain hugging roads. If you enjoy a true taste of wilderness, this beautiful archipelago with its cultural eccentricities is a must visit when exploring Oman.

Musandam is a scuba divers paradise with over 25 dive sites available all year round; these diving spots are accessible for divers of all experience levels while a few drift dive sites are recommended only for experienced divers. While diving you be able to get up close and personal with a wide variety of sea creatures such as green turtles, marbles sting ray spotted eagle ray, king fish, king barracuda, reef sharks, obtuse barracuda and many more, The most notable sea creature most divers encounter is the gentle whale shark which grow up to 8 meters.

For photographers the sea bed of Musandam offer a fascinating variety of shots with plenty of nudibranchs, cleaner shrimps, thor shrimps, box shrimps and much more.

For the history buffs a visit to the Khasab Castle would make a nice pit stop on a tour of Khasab, the capital city of Musandam with interesting tit-bits about the region allowing you to take a glimpse of the hardships and history of the people of Musandam, Oman.

The Bimmah Sink hole is another great tourist destination to visit when travelling through Musandam. Located at the Hawiyat Najm Park this unique geological wonder has amazed visitors with the beauty of its crystal blue waters and mystifying rock formations that seem to invite you in for a dip. You’re sure to find tourists jumping into the pool from the top but for the faint of heart the Omani government have provided steps to walk right in. Another plus point of taking a dip in the waters of this sink hole (apart from the unmistakable refreshing feeling one gets afterwards) is that you get your get your feet cleaned by the little fish that live in the ocean. So one gets a fish spa treatment while having a lovely dip!

Nature lovers, we would recommend going dolphin watching on a traditional Oman Dhow, these boats fixed with Arabic finishing and carpets offering an almost endless supply of Arabic tea will also provide you with the most wonderful dolphin watching experience, they (the dolphins) come and swim alongside the dhow putting on a show and many even respond to the captain’s whistles, keep in mind that these creatures are still wild, but over many generations have formed a relationship with the local fishing community.

For the 4×4 enthusiast Musandam has a number of mountain roads to test your skills. One of which even takes you way high up to 1800m at Jebel Kiwi. This track in particular is made in a wadi (dry river bed) thus allowing you to explore the full capabilities of your 4×4

Apart from all the activities mentioned above, some of the other outdoor activities one could indulge include an overnight camping tour, a trip to the evening fish market and a boat tour of the Musandam sea coast which would provide some fantastic sights including a closer look at the Omani fjords which are only accessible by boat

So with all this and many more natural wonders to behold at Musandam can one really miss out this nature’s paradise when traveling through Oman?

Oman Air flies daily from Muscat to Khasab.

The Oman team were late starters when it came to FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaigns, their first bid in 1990 concluded with the side coming last in their group behind Qatar, Iraq and Jordan. In 2002 they had another opportunity, this time making it through to the final round of the Asian qualifiers, where in a tough section that included continental heavyweights Japan, they succumbed to the pressure.

A promising new generation of Omani players savoured their first taste of the world stage at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Ecuador in 1995 and blossomed during the qualifiers for Japan/Korea in 2002 and the 2004 AFC Asian Cup in China. The same side took the runners-up spot in the 2004 Gulf Cup of Nations, a tournament they eventually won and also hosted in 2009. Missing out on a place at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals was a blow, but Oman have opened brightly in Asia’s qualifying campaign for Brazil 2014, eliminating Myanmar 4-0 on aggregate to reach the third phase.   

The red warrior roster contains a number of outstanding talents, the most promising of which is goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, who attained genuine star status during stints with English clubs Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic. Strikers Imad Al Hosni and Badr Al Maimani as well as midfielders Fawzi Bashir and Ismail Al Ajmi are the main players to watch in the upcoming preliminary competition.  

With the home ground advantage and the professional expertise of former French football player Paul Le Guen, the red warriors are prepped to take on Iraq and earn their place in FIFA history.

Oman Air is soon to announce their incentives to win 10 tickets each for 20 lucky winners. Watch our social media platforms for the announcement and sign up to win! In case you’re busy we will bring you the match live on Twitter on the 4^th of June when Nabeel will be tweeting noteworthy moments of the match. The match will be played in the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex and will kick-off at 5:00 p.m.

Oman, the official airline of the Sultanate of Oman, wish the red warriors all the very best. Go Red and go win!

So we’ve come up with a small list of books (category wise) to keep you engrossed the next time you take a trip with us

1. Fantasy: For the fantasy book lovers any book from the Harry Potter series is a sure winner, despite the fact that you’ve most likely have already finished the series years ago and the move series is now out on blue ray and your local movie channel it still seems to gains a new flavour  every time you read it! For the non Harry Potter lovers my next choice would be George R Martin’s Game of Thrones series or Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series of books
2. History: A long flight is always a good time to catch up on your history be it a book on the Tudor history (John Gillingham’s The Wars of the Roses), the renaissance (The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fall by Christopher Hibbert) or the more recent Dofar insurgency (In the service of the Sultan: Ian Gardin) a book on history is a sure fire way to either keep you occupied or ensure that you’re asleep throughout the whole flight!
3. Mystery: The typical ‘who done it!’ is a great way to kill a few flight hours, we recommend the following books by the masters of mystery: The complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, Daughter of time by Josephine Trey and Agatha Christie’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.
4. Horror:  As long as the novel doesn’t involve a plane the horror category is a decent pick for you on flight read, keeping in mind the best horror novels of all time keep  the call of Cthulhu by H.P Lovecraft , the haunting of hill house by Shirley Jackson and Pet Sematary by Stephen King  in mind when picking up the reasons for nightmares, after all it was these  greats authors that inspired a whole genre of horror movies
5. Sci-fi: the year 2000 has come and gone over a decade ago but sadly the promised alien invasion and flying cars have still yet to arrive, so for all true believers who still have hope for a robot butler and the TARDIS appearing on your doorstep we recommend taking a glance at Enders Game (Orson Scott Card), Sphere (Michael Crichton) and the foundation trilogy (Isaac Asimov) when you’re on the flight wondering why instant teleportation isn’t here yet!

Happy flying!!

1. If you have a choice, take a night flight. This way your little ones should be asleep for a larger part of the journey.
2. Check in early and inform our staff that you are travelling with kids in tow. We would be happy to provide you with front row , has  seats & a bassinet can be attached if required for babies
3. Use bags with wheels: this comes in handy especially between transit flights.
4. Pack right: make sure you have enough little toys, colouring books, activity books etc, it would also help to carry comfortable clothes, a zip loc bag for diapers, little snacks and lots of water. A favourite toy or blanket will always be welcome and helps the child adjust to the upcoming change; at the same time try to keep it easy as you wouldn’t want to lug around a truckload of stuff that your kids wouldn’t even notice while travelling.
5. Technology is your friend: Even though our A330 fleet aircraft have in-flight entertainment options, a tablet or Gameboy can be wonder tools in keeping your child entertained both in the air and while you’re waiting.
6. Prevent ear problem: for babies it’s particularly necessary during takeoff or landing, bottles of juice or water, pacifiers, baby snacks that dissolve quickly can help in easing ear ache.
7. Avoid dehydration: As children are more prone to dehydration carry or ask for lots of water, also use snacks that help saliva flow such as fruit. Again check with the airline staff before you carry them on-board.
8. Doctor knows best: Always have your child checked up at max a week before your flight, especially if showing signs of a cold. An infected ear drum is always at risk of rupture due to pressure change, unpleasant but true!
9. Stretch it out: use every opportunity you can before the flight to allow your kids to work out their restlessness, relay races when you pack (or a few hours before you leave for the airport), jumping contests at the waiting lounge go a long way in combating the eventual fidgetiness your little ones would feel when forced to sit in the airline seat for a few hours.
10. Some of Oman Air’s flights have children’s activity kit. It’s a pretty fun kit and can keep your children occupied for a long time. Do ask for it while on board.

And the most important thing is stay calm and don’t panic. Do not pass on your nervousness to your children. Things can go awry and your little one may not behave perfectly at every moment but with a cool head and lots of deep breaths I’m sure that everything will work out fine. Have a safe and happy flight.

This is how the Arabian Travel Market came into being, which also in the travel industry is commonly known as ATM. It goes without saying that ATM is a vital and crucial Travel Trade event for the Middle East which attracts the who’s who of the industry along with the people who work in the travel industry and also non-industry people alike. Basically, all levels of the value added chain are present: from tour operators, booking engines, destinations, airlines, and hotels right through to car rental companies.

Arabian Travel Market is the travel and tourism event unlocking business potential within the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. The 2013 show will run from May 6 – 9 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC). Arabian Travel Market offers business alternatives for travel agents as well as the best offers for the most indulgent luxury travelers of all around the world who want to enjoy all what the still little know middle east offers.

Along the usual luxury travel events and exhibitions, the Arabian Travel Market offers seminars covering a variety of topics related to the leisure industry from a technological point of view such as state of the art yachts and private jets, new develops in amenities and entertainment and communication technologies for a total control of business affairs from the holidays location. Tourism destinations from the Middle East and around the world also assemble at ATM to showcase a range of accommodation options, tourism attractions and potential new airline routes.

It’s a top notch event following international standards as it is administered by event’s organiser Reed Exhibitions (RE), which also organises a portfolio of other travel industry events including World Travel Market (WTM)

We hope that we can conclude a successful event by achieving what we came for. And, if you are visiting the event please drop by counter ME 4340, hope to see you there J

Most of us know that Thailand is one of the most visited countries in the world with tourists flocking this tropical haven in thousands all year. We can go on about the beaches, shopping arenas and other attractions of Thailand but that is not what we are going to be talking about today.

Thailand is a highly cultural country with a number of festivals and wide variety of religious events all around the year. But, did you know that every year in April, Thailand hosts the world’s largest water fight! It is an old festival tradition in Thailand known as “Songkran”, and marks the New Year according to the Thai Lunar calendar. For young adults, who are looking for a good fun break, there isn’t possibly a better time to visit Thailand. Falling on 13^th April and celebrated for three days, the Songkran water festival is every water fight you can imagine, times a million.

The tradition is an example of beautiful Thai culture revealing the joy, generosity, warmth, and respect of the Thai people. During Songkran, Thai people use water and scents to convey love and concord to each other. On the crazier side, nobody is safe from attack! All the city streets of Bangkok are transformed into temporary water war zones.  Every citizen is armed and trigger happy. From small children with tiny water pistols, through to roving gangs of smiling adults driving the latest pickup-trucks that have been converted into mobile water cannons, everyone takes part. If you head outdoors, you will get wet, whether you like it or not. Even the elephants get involved by spraying onlookers with their trunks to join in the fun!

Now you might want to know the logic behind the throwing of water, right? To the people of Thailand, the spraying of the water is a sign of spiritual renewal and cleansing. This special time of year is paired with spring-cleaning and lighthearted pranks.

What also surprises most foreigners, is the experience of being openly welcomed by the people of Thailand to take part in such an authentic large scale traditional festival. It’s not known as the “The Land of Smiles” for no reason.

There are a few precautions that you should take. First, if you take a camera, you should assume it will be destroyed by water. Revelers will happily aim for your camera for the pure joy of it. Same goes for all electronics as they are not going to survive the Thai Songkran experience. Also, dress appropriately for the occasion and possibly sport sunglasses, just to avoid any mishaps with the eye.

If you are in Bangkok at this time of the year you’ll be sure to have an unforgettable time celebrating what is surely one of the best festivals you will ever attend.

Oman Air has celebrated its 20^th anniversary. That means we are out of the teens and ready to take on the many challenges that lie ahead. For starters, Oman Air launched its first flight on the 15^th of March 1993 and has since grown to become one of the world’s best international airlines. Looking back at Oman Air’s inaugural flight to Salalah, the first international flight to Dubai on a leased Boeing 727-300 that took off in July 1993 and the first flight to the Subcontinent (Trivandrum) took place in November of the same year, the time has just flown us by, literally. Now Oman Air operates its flights to 42 destinations out of which 39 are international with a total fleet strength of 30.

In recognition of the unparalleled quality of its onboard products, the carrier has also received countless awards, including World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat at the World Airline Awards for the last two years running. We would like to thank you all for your support and feedback that has helped us improve our services over the years and made us a force to reckon with. On this celebratory occasion we are committed to proudly carry the flag of our country on the aircraft to more destinations around the world.

We turned 20 on 15^th Mar and to celebrate it and on 20^th Mar, for one day only, Oman Air offered all its customers (flying return fares originating from Muscat) a fantastic 20% online only discount to all international destinations in all classes. And, owing to the success of the initial offer we have extended the same concept and now offer 20% discount on First and Business Class to selected international destinations.

Now, for those of you who are hard to please we imagine you saying is this enough? The party has just started for our fans and followers on social media. There are quite a few big surprises which are under wraps and will be announced in due time. Just keep your eyes and ears open and keep following Oman Air on facebook, twitter and G+. And of course tell your friends about it.

We think turning 20 is awesome and there is no one better than you, our customers, to celebrate it with. On that note we also vow to continue offering our customers a high-quality service experience balanced with traditional Omani hospitality.

The ITB, which is an acronym for Internationale Tourismus-Börse Berlin, is the most important Travel Trade show in the entire world. This is the place where the who’s who of the aviation industry descends along with the people who work in the travel industry and also non-industry people who just want to inform themselves about beautiful and exciting travel destinations meet each other at one place. All levels of the value added chain are present: from tour operators, booking engines, destinations, airlines, and hotels right through to car rental companies.

It wasn’t always a mega event when it started back in 1966 and saw a modest participation of five countries only and that too in the context of an overseas-import trade show. Exhibition space has since grown from 580 square meters to 150,000 square meters today. The number of trade visitors rose to over 100,000 from initially 250. With a total of 180,000 visitors, who would like to see the offers of currently over 10,000 exhibitors, ITB Berlin today is a real show-piece of Messe Berlin – and has expanded towards Asia.

This year the event is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, 06 March – Sunday, 10 March, and it’s expected that 2013 edition of ITB will attract tens of thousands of exhibitors, visitors and media representatives. The whole variety of travelling is present at ITB Berlin: Destinations, tour operators, booking systems, carriers, hotels and all other suppliers who want to embellish their customers’ most beautiful weeks of the year and that’s one crucial reason why Oman Air is a regular participant at this mega event.

Located on the fairgrounds of Messe Berlin, the ITB for trade visitors is the perfect opportunity to meet business partners and do business. But the real fun is reserved for the general public as they can check out the variety of holiday-options, fantasize about the ideal holiday and maybe book an impulsive vacation at the event. It is a unique possibility to discover the travel-world in a few hours.

We hope that we can conclude a successful event by achieving what we came for. And, if you are visiting the event please drop by counter 202 Hall 22.B, hope to see you there.

To reach the top is difficult but staying there is a different challenge altogether and this is a trait which separates the exceptional from the ordinary. As we all know that 2012 was an outstanding year of sailing achievements for Oman, when two teams participating in the premier sailing event, Extreme Sailing Series, took the top two positions at the podium. The Wave – Muscat finished as the leaders with Oman Air finishing second, proudly representing Oman at the highest level of sailing.

Now into its seventh year, 2013 Extreme Sailing Series events and dates are already out with the first leg to kick-off in Muscat. Eight Host Venues spanning the Middle East, Asia, South America and Europe have been announced for the 2013 Extreme Sailing Series, marking the third year of truly global competition for the circuit first launched as a European only event in 2007.

From the Series opener to be held 5th-8th March at The Wave, Muscat in Oman for the third year running, to the grand finale in November on the 2016 Olympic waters of Rio de Janeiro, the Extreme Sailing Series spread across the calendar with one exciting Act in an iconic location roughly every five weeks. This year some new faces and teams will join the line up against the more seasoned crews from the previous seasons.

Keeping the same successful format as previous years unchanged, each event will take place over four days: one day of potential open water racing followed by three days of stadium racing open to public and VIP guests. The free public Race Village in each venue will continue to expand the on land entertainment experience, which in Muscat will include Red Bull free runners, a family activity area, ‘try sailing’ sessions for local school groups and a football tournament which in 2012 attracted 130 local teams!

Eight iconic locations, three continents, one Extreme Series