EVERETT — Oman Air has started talks with Boeing and Airbus for an order to replace its 10 A330s, the Middle East airline’s CEO Paul Gregorowitsch recently told reporters.
The flag carrier is considering the Boeing 787-9 or 787-10 and the Airbus A350-900. The A330neo is likely not in the running, unless Airbus makes a very compelling pitch for the re-engined aircraft, he said.
Oman Air’s A330s are only a few years old. It started receiving them in 2009, as it added destinations and expanded its fleet. Between 2009 and 2014, the airline roughly doubled its numbers of passengers, according to the Centre for Aviation, a consulting firm based in Sydney, Australia.
Since then, the airline has shifted its fleet strategy to focus around the Boeing 787. It currently operates four — two it owns and two on lease from Kenya Airways. It also has four 787s on order. The airline expects its fleet to grow from 42 aircraft now to 57 in 2018 and about 70 about 2020.
Gregorowitsch said that while the airline has focused on the 787, the A350 could be a better option for its longest routes, Bloomberg reported.
Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.
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