Oman Airports Attends the WTM
Represented by the Commercial Operation team, Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) attended the World Travel Market (WTM) that was held in London, United Kingdom between the 2nd to the 5th of November. The event represented More than 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international press, gathered under one roof to network, meet, negotiate and conduct business.
For the second year in a row, Oman Airports Management Company, Commercial Airline Marketing team joined the Ministry of Tourism along with other tourism related participants from Oman such as international hotels, Tour/Travel agencies, and small medium enterprises.
The Airline Marketing team held successful and important meetings with targeted Airlines network managers where both sides discussed potential possibilities in either adding new frequencies, implementing new routes (including Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and Duqm airports), in addition to prompting Oman Airports and Oman as a destination. According to Kimmo Ruotsalainen, Head of Sales and Marketing, meetings consisted prospects in the Middle Eastern & African region as well as European carriers. Oman Airports’ key target markets are the Middle Eastern, Gulf, and South Asian markets, as well as further connecting African and Far East in the future. In addition, Mr. Kimmo Ruotsalainen stated that meetings with tour and travel operators is also important to help with striking new business deals with potential airlines as well as helping to promote Oman as a destination.
In the light of the above, Oman Airports Management Company are looking forward to build direct routes with African carriers and partner with Oman Air to enhance the Muscat hub connectivity. The aim is to have several new airlines to start operating to MCT during this year and more is planned to start in 2016. Oman Airports and Oman’s national carrier “Oman Air” (also a participant at the WTM this year) have a close relationship and are working together to strengthen the transfer traffic via Muscat hub.
Moreover, The Sultanate of Oman is close to opening up its new international convention center, to which will be the sultanate’s landmark business events hub, putting the global spotlight on Oman as the new center of opportunity. The convention centre Project is one of the biggest projects under construction in Muscat and amongst its features is an Auditorium seating of 3,200 people and more than 22,000 square meters of exhibition space. The new Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre completed in 2016, is set to become an iconic landmark for Muscat and the Sultanate of Oman.
There are 32 airlines operating to and from Muscat International Airport, while the active passenger traffic at Muscat International Airport throughout the period from January to October, 2015, recorded total growth of 7,602,169 passengers, in comparison to 2014, which had an overall increase of 6,605,147 recording 15% over the same period last year. Oman Airports’ Targets would be an increase in passenger figures, in an estimation of 10 million passengers this year and foresee more business provided for growth in the coming years to come.
Oman Airports are very active in attending international world leading aviation events/conferences and are looking forward to attending more world aviation leading events in 2016. The Airline Marketing team are working thoroughly with airlines and local aviation stakeholders to guarantee additional frequencies, new destinations and an outstanding customer experience to all travelers travelling to the Sultanate of Oman.