Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman, has announced the introduction of its first freighter by the end of 2023, as it cited increased cargo demand last year.

In his keynote speech during an annual cargo workshop, Eng. Abdulaziz Al Raisi, chief executive officer of Oman Air, shared the "outstanding 2022 results" of the airline and the strategies moving into the new year.

 Source: Oman Air

"In spite of a challenging environment, Oman Air Cargo continues to deliver numbers ahead of its budget. In 2021, our revenues were 86% above target. In 2022, we achieved another 44% increase, exceeding our budget revenue by 37%, as well as a 36% increase in the amount of cargo transported compared to the previous year," Al Raisi said.

He noted that this underscores the success of the airline's many policies to ensure that it remains "ahead of the curve" in an ever-changing industry and meets the growing demand for air cargo.

First freighter aircraft

"In 2023, we are keeping up the momentum. In the coming months, we look forward to introducing our first ever freighter, and we will also be launching several new markets," the Oman Air Cargo chief executive added, saying that 

"This will offer exciting new opportunities for our guests and cargo alike while continuing to unlock Oman’s potential as a global logistics hub in line with Oman’s 2040 Vision," Al Raisi added.

Jaffar Al Lawati, vice president of commercial cargo, also said the move is part of Oman Air's bid to "continue to tap into Oman's strategic location as a link between East and West and position Oman Air Cargo at the centre of a rapidly developing industry."

In 2022, Oman Air Cargo added several new destinations and introduced its innovative 'Cargo-in-Cabin' service to Europe, the Far East and Indian Subcontinent.

It also modified its A330-300 passenger aircraft by removing the seats, allowing it to raise capacity to 40 tonnes per aircraft and has improved its services to ensure shorter acceptance and dwell time with express connections through its hub in Muscat.

Oman Air Cargo said it has also secured the IATA CEIV for Pharma and Fresh certifications.

The announcement was made during the carrier's annual cargo workshop under the theme 'Journey to Success', which brought together employees and stakeholders from across the company's global network to celebrate its accomplishments in the past year and discuss future strategies.