Muscat, 30 June 2025 – Oman Air has officially become the 15th full member of the oneworld® alliance, unlocking greater global connectivity via Muscat and enhancing travel flexibility across the Middle East.
Effective 1 July 2025, oneworld frequent flyers will enjoy full reciprocal benefits when flying with Oman Air, including mileage accrual and redemption, lounge access, and priority check-in and boarding. Oman Air’s Sindbad members will likewise gain access to nearly 700 premium lounges across the alliance’s global network.
Serving 42 destinations in 22 countries , Oman Air brings meaningful scale to the alliance. This move provides oneworld a second Gulf hub, complementing Qatar Airways’s Doha base without overlapping existing routes.
oneworld now comprises major carriers like American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, and Japan Airlines, covering over 900 destinations across 170 countries.
Gulf Carriers Take Divergent Alliance Paths
Oman Air becomes the third Gulf airline to join a global alliance. Qatar Airways has been a cornerstone of oneworld since long, leveraging its Doha hub to drive alliance traffic. Saudia, by contrast, is a long-standing member of SkyTeam, though it maintains a relatively independent commercial strategy.
Other Gulf airlines have taken markedly different approaches. Emirates has consistently rejected alliance membership in favor of expansive bilateral partnerships, most notably its growing cooperation with United Airlines. Etihad Airways, once the architect of an equity alliance, has since scaled back and now relies on selective codeshares and joint ventures.
In this landscape, Oman Air’s move represents a valuable alignment with a global alliance, giving oneworld enhanced strategic presence in the Gulf without duplicating the hub-and-spoke networks of its neighbors.
Oman Air CEO Con Korfiatis said the alliance is a chance “to showcase Omani hospitality to a global audience,” while oneworld CEO Nat Pieper described the addition as “enhancing connections across the Gulf and South Asia.”
With this new partnership, travelers can expect smoother connections, more travel choices, and a consistent premium experience across the oneworld network.
Image source: oneworld
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