SalamAir, Oman’s prominent low-cost airline, has introduced a new WhatsApp service designed to enhance the passenger experience by delivering flight tickets and boarding passes directly through the popular messaging app. This convenient feature allows travelers to bypass the traditional hassle of sifting through emails or printing documents, making the check-in process smoother and more efficient.

For a nominal fee of 0.250 OMR per booking, customers who provide their WhatsApp number during reservation will receive automated notifications with their booking confirmation and boarding passes, although the service currently supports only one-way communication from the airline to the passenger.

This innovative move is part of SalamAir’s ongoing digital transformation efforts aimed at offering more flexible and customer-friendly travel solutions. The airline, which operates a fleet of 13 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft and conducts over 80 daily flights, plans to expand its fleet with a new A321neo arriving in early 2025 and an additional 10 Airbus A320s by 2028, supporting its growth strategy aligned with Oman’s Vision 2040.

SalamAir’s leadership, including Chief Commercial Officer Steven Allen, has emphasized the airline’s commitment to leveraging technology to provide travelers with seamless, personalized services.

Alongside the WhatsApp ticketing service, SalamAir has recently introduced other enhancements such as Express Bag and Priority services, further improving the overall travel experience. While the WhatsApp service improves convenience, passengers are responsible for ensuring their devices have adequate connectivity to receive messages.

The airline also maintains strict privacy policies to protect customer data and limits third-party sharing to essential service functions. This latest development reinforces SalamAir’s position as a trusted and innovative carrier in the Gulf region, continuing to prioritize customer satisfaction and operational excellence.

SalamAir, Oman’s prominent low-cost airline, has introduced a new WhatsApp service designed to enhance the passenger experience by delivering flight tickets and boarding passes directly through the popular messaging app. This convenient feature allows travelers to bypass the traditional hassle of sifting through emails or printing documents, making the check-in process smoother and more efficient.

For a nominal fee of 0.250 OMR per booking, customers who provide their WhatsApp number during reservation will receive automated notifications with their booking confirmation and boarding passes, although the service currently supports only one-way communication from the airline to the passenger.

This innovative move is part of SalamAir’s ongoing digital transformation efforts aimed at offering more flexible and customer-friendly travel solutions. The airline, which operates a fleet of 13 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft and conducts over 80 daily flights, plans to expand its fleet with a new A321neo arriving in early 2025 and an additional 10 Airbus A320s by 2028, supporting its growth strategy aligned with Oman’s Vision 2040.

SalamAir’s leadership, including Chief Commercial Officer Steven Allen, has emphasized the airline’s commitment to leveraging technology to provide travelers with seamless, personalized services.

Alongside the WhatsApp ticketing service, SalamAir has recently introduced other enhancements such as Express Bag and Priority services, further improving the overall travel experience. While the WhatsApp service improves convenience, passengers are responsible for ensuring their devices have adequate connectivity to receive messages.

The airline also maintains strict privacy policies to protect customer data and limits third-party sharing to essential service functions. This latest development reinforces SalamAir’s position as a trusted and innovative carrier in the Gulf region, continuing to prioritize customer satisfaction and operational excellence.

Oman Air has marked a transformative chapter in its operational history, completing a comprehensive organizational restructuring program that has driven financial recovery, workforce localization, and environmental stewardship. The airline achieved a 40% reduction in operating losses in 2023 alongside a 30% surge in annual revenues, while net losses narrowed by 36%, reflecting improved cost management and route optimization.

Workforce adjustments saw a 24% reduction in staff, generating RO 18 million in annual savings, with the Omanisation rate climbing to 79.4% in 2024—up nearly 5 percentage points from 2023—and targeting 81% by mid-2025 to prioritize local talent development.

Operational Efficiency and Fleet Modernization

The airline streamlined its network capacity by 30%, discontinuing unprofitable routes while enhancing focus on high-demand corridors. Its fleet was optimized to 32 aircraft in 2024, with plans to introduce 13 next-generation jets—including Boeing 737 MAX narrowbodies and 787-9 Dreamliners—by 2025, aimed at reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 20% per flight. 

Despite network adjustments, Oman Air launched its first new route in five years in late 2024, leveraging its narrowbody fleet for regional connectivity. Operational metrics saw dramatic improvements: on-time performance reached 92% (ranking among the world’s top two airlines), while load factors hit 75% in 2024, with a record 88% achieved in early 2025 on key routes.

Sustainability and Workforce Development

Oman Air allocated RO 15 million for employee severance packages, supporting 293 departing staff while redeploying 74 employees internally and relocating 87 others within Oman’s aviation sector. Sustainability initiatives included the elimination of single-use plastics across flights, a 15% reduction in fuel consumption through optimized flight paths, and partnerships to explore Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) adoption by 2026. 

The airline also introduced eco-friendly catering and waste-reduction programs, aligning with Oman’s Vision 2040 goal of achieving net-zero emissions in aviation.

Financial Resilience and Strategic Vision

The restructuring, guided by Oliver Wyman, strengthened governance through specialized committees overseeing finance, risk, and sustainability. EBITDA grew by 40% in 2023, driven by a 49% increase in point-to-point passenger traffic compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Oman Air aims to achieve break-even by 2026 and full economic self-sufficiency by 2027, supporting Oman’s tourism sector, which targets 11.7 million annual visitors by 2040. Integration with budget carrier SalamAir remains a priority, utilizing its Airbus A320neo fleet to expand regional reach while maintaining Oman Air’s premium service standards.

Future Outlook

The airline’s roadmap includes expanding cargo operations, digitizing customer experiences, and fostering partnerships with global aviation leaders to enhance operational agility. By balancing fiscal discipline with workforce empowerment and environmental innovation, Oman Air is poised to emerge as a model for sustainable aviation in the Gulf region, directly contributing to Oman’s economic diversification and climate action goals.

Emirates Airlines is preparing to host a spectacular Easter celebration from April 18 to April 21, 2025, offering a joyous experience for travelers across its various routes and lounges. This event welcomes passengers in First Class, Business Class, and Economy Class to partake in the festive spirit of Easter.

During this celebration, Emirates will serve a delightful assortment of Easter-themed meals on flights to destinations such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, and the USA. Travelers can anticipate classic Easter offerings, including hot cross buns and Easter bread, alongside indulgent desserts like carrot cake drizzled with a rich très leches sauce and chocolate mousse paired with raspberry gel and hazelnut fudge.

Young passengers will also receive cheerful Easter egg-shaped cookies, adding a playful touch to their journey. In the A380 Onboard Lounge, passengers can enjoy festive cupcakes and traditional simnel fruitcake topped with marzipan.

For those flying on routes to Russia and Greece, Emirates will celebrate Orthodox Easter from April 18 to April 20, featuring a unique menu for First and Business Class passengers. This special menu includes herb-crusted lamb served with crispy roasted potatoes, baby carrots, and tzatziki, as well as kulich bread, a sweet treat traditionally enjoyed during Orthodox Easter.

Across Emirates' network of lounges, passengers will find an array of classic Easter dishes available from April 18 to April 21. Highlights include tender lamb chops served in saffron and orange jus in the First Class Lounge, and a hearty lamb stew with potatoes and dried fruits in the Business Class Lounge. A selection of Easter-themed desserts, including cookies and assorted chocolates, will also be available.

In addition to these culinary delights, Emirates will provide a wide range of entertainment options, featuring over 6,500 channels on its acclaimed ice entertainment system. Passengers can enjoy family-friendly films like Wicked and Sonic the Hedgehog 3, as well as beloved classics from Disney and the complete Harry Potter series. Engaging children’s programming from networks such as Sesame Street and Bluey will also be featured.

Through this Eggstravagant Easter celebration, Emirates aims to foster a festive and enjoyable atmosphere for all travelers, ensuring their journey is both memorable and filled with holiday cheer.

In a significant move toward restoring full diplomatic and economic relations, the United Arab Emirates has announced it will resume commercial flights to Syria, more than a decade after suspending air travel amid the Syrian civil war.

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed that preparations are currently underway to relaunch both passenger and cargo services, in a step officials say will enhance travel, boost trade, and reinforce growing ties between Abu Dhabi and Damascus.

The announcement follows a landmark visit by Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara to the UAE—his first since taking office in December 2024—where he held high-level talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. During their meeting, Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to Syria’s post-war recovery, pledging comprehensive support for reconstruction and economic revitalization.

“The resumption of flights is a clear signal of our intent to deepen cooperation,” a senior UAE official said. “It’s a practical measure with symbolic weight, reflecting the evolving relationship between our two nations.”

Flights between the UAE and Syria were halted in 2012 due to security concerns and the escalating conflict that engulfed the region. The move to restore connectivity aligns with a broader trend among Arab states that are reengaging with Syria, following recent political shifts in Damascus.

Regional carriers such as Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways have already resumed limited services to Syrian cities, and earlier this year, Syrian Airlines launched its first international commercial flight to Sharjah, marking a cautious but notable return to global air routes.

While no official restart date has been announced, budget airlines flydubai and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi have expressed interest in operating flights to Syria, pending regulatory approvals and safety assessments.

The renewed air links are expected to significantly benefit the large Syrian expatriate community in the UAE, many of whom have been separated from families or faced difficulties traveling home. It also promises to create new avenues for tourism and trade in a country seeking economic revival.

However, Syria’s path forward remains challenged by international sanctions, particularly those imposed by Western nations. These sanctions continue to hamper full economic recovery, even as diplomatic momentum builds for their gradual easing.

Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's ambitious new flag carrier, has officially received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), signaling its readiness to commence operations. This milestone follows an extensive certification process involving test flights and regulatory compliance checks.

While the airline initially planned to launch in mid-2025, production delays for its Boeing 787 Dreamliners have pushed the operational debut to the fourth quarter of the year. Riyadh Air is leasing a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to facilitate pilot and crew training while awaiting delivery of its fleet.

Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Riyadh Air is central to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy, aiming to diversify the economy and establish Riyadh as a global aviation hub. The airline has secured orders for 39 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with options for 33 more, alongside an order for 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft.

These planes will enable Riyadh Air to connect over 100 cities across six continents by 2030, bridging gaps in Saudi Arabia’s international air connectivity. The fleet will be powered by advanced GEnx-1B engines, offering significant fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

Riyadh Air’s dual-livery designs reflect its modern and culturally inspired branding, featuring indigo and lavender themes inspired by Arabic calligraphy and Bedouin aesthetics. The airline plans to offer a three-class configuration—business, premium economy, and economy—emphasizing luxury and innovation while avoiding traditional first-class cabins. Strategic partnerships with major carriers like Delta Air Lines, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines will further extend its reach globally.

As Saudi Arabia invests heavily in infrastructure projects like King Salman International Airport, Riyadh Air is set to play a pivotal role in attracting millions of visitors annually. The airline’s ambitious plans include contributing $20 billion to non-oil GDP growth and creating over 200,000 jobs. With its maiden flights expected by late 2025, Riyadh Air is poised to redefine air travel in the region and compete with established Gulf carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways.