Oman Air rebrands premium cabin, says Oneworld membership delayed but on track

The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our

advertising policy and

product review methodology for more information.

Oman Air hopes to finalize its membership in the global airline alliance, Oneworld, sometime in the second quarter of next year, CEO Con Korfiatis said.

The timeline represents a multi-month delay to the years-long membership process for the Muscat, Oman-based carrier. Oman Air first unveiled plans to join Oneworld and its 13 member airlines in 2022; at the time, the airline said it would complete the process this year. The alliance reaffirmed the timing as recently as June when it announced that Fiji Airlines would also become a member.

While speaking at the Routes World conference in Bahrain Oct. 7, Korfiatis — who only stepped into the CEO role at Oman Air in May — did not say why the airline's Oneworld membership is taking longer than planned. Instead, he focused on what it means for the carrier's reach.

"The alliance allows you to get a significant expansion" without using Oman Air's own aircraft, he said.

Oman Air's network extends from London in the west to Manila, Philippines, in the east; it also incldues Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania.

Value check: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

The airline operates 33 aircraft, including 23 Boeing 737s and 10 Boeing 787s, according to fleet data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. It has another three 737 MAXes and eight 787s on order.

When asked if Oman Air was considering U.S. flights, Korfiatis said not at this time.

First Class now 'Business Studio'

While Oneworld membership is top of Oman Air's to-do list, the airline recently made a significant shift with its onboard product. The airline stopped selling first-class tickets in August and instead rebranded the cabin as its new "Business Studio."

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

Gone are top-shelf Champagnes and caviar with the shift to Business Studio. Instead, the airline is offering an expanded business-class service in the same lie-flat suites that were previously branded as first class.

Korfiatis said the decision was based on low demand for first class and feedback from business travelers who were unable to book the suites owing to corporate travel policies that bar first-class travel. Since the cabin was rebranded and fares were lowered, bookings for the seats have increased by 50%, he added.

"We looked at whether it made sense to rip it off and just have the aircraft in the same configuration as the rest of the 787-9 fleet," Korfiatis said. "It was $20, $25 million, so it didn't make sense ripping it out."

Oman Air's Business Studios are currently only available on two of the airline's 787s that operate flights from Muscat to Bangkok and London, he added.

Related reading:

• The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
• The best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations