Oman's budget carrier SalamAir has signed a five-year contract with Swissport, a leading provider of ground and air cargo services, for hub handling at Muscat International Airport.

As of January 1, 2019, the Swiss Aviation Services company will provide the Omani carrier with a full range of services, from passenger services to ramp operations.

At the Omani capital, Swissport will handle the low-cost carrier’s flights to currently three domestic and 11 international destinations in nine countries. The carrier is currently operating four Airbus A320 aircraft from its hub in Muscat, with five additional aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2019. In addition to the hub services at Muscat International Airport, Swissport has already started to handle SalamAir’s daily flights at the private airport of Mukhaizna (UKH) in the Omani desert.

“We are delighted that SalamAir has chosen Swissport to serve its valued customers at Muscat International”, said Nils Knudsen, chief commercial officer of Swissport International AG. “In 2017, when we started up in Muscat, Oman was a greenfield site for us. We are proud of how quickly we established the Swissport operating standards, delivering the quality services our clients trust.”

Adding SalamAir to its growing portfolio of high-profile customers in Oman is another milestone for Swissport since starting up operations in the Middle East. The agreement underlines the company’s position as a high-quality service provider and supports its own growth ambitions in the region.

“We are proud to provide hub handling services to this fast-growing airline in the sultanate of Oman,” said Mark Skinner, Swissport’s senior vice president Middle East & Africa. “Swissport is committed to fulfil and surpass SalamAir’s high expectations regarding on-time performance and quality.”

Swissport entered the Omani market in April 2017 together with its joint venture partner Al Jarwani Group, which holds 30 per cent of the shares. Swissport Oman rapidly grew its customer portfolio, which today includes flydubai, Air Arabia, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, Air New Zealand and now SalamAir. - TradeArabia News Service