Oman Air, the flag carrier of the country, recently appointed Abdulrahaman Al-Busaidy to the position of chief operating officer.

The airline’s Commercial, Network Planning, and Strategy and Business Development divisions will report to Al Busaidy.

The appointment comes at a critical time for Oman Air, as it prepares for its next phase of rapid expansion, which will begin with the arrival later this year of the first of the 20 new aircraft that the airline currently has on order.

“We are delighted to welcome Abdulrahaman Al-Busaidy to the newly-created post of chief operating officer, where his formidable skills and extensive experience will be crucial in helping to guide Oman Air through its next phase of development,” said Salim Al Kindy, acting CEO of Oman Air.

“We are further delighted that he is returning to Oman Air, having been the airline’s chief executive officer from 2000 to 2006.

“In the interim period, Oman Air has undergone the significant change and expansion that he helped to plan, but at its heart lies the same mission: to offer an outstanding and seamless passenger experience for all our customers. Abdulrahaman Al-Busaidy’s undoubted expertise will help to ensure that we continue to achieve this mission as we enter our next phase of ambitious growth.”

After achieving a BSc degree in Aviation Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, USA, and an MBA from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, Abdulrahaman Al-Busaidy worked for 19 years, until 2000, for Gulf Air, rising to the position of executive vice president marketing.

Following his appointment in 2000 as chief executive officer of Oman Air, Al-Busaidy modernized the airline’s fleet and rationalized it from five types of aircraft to two. He also expanded Oman Air’s network and invested in systems such as revenue management, departure control and e-ticketing, achieving profitability in 2006.

Later that year, Al-Busaidy was appointed as the chief strategy and planning officer for the much-larger Jet Airways, where he was responsible for seeing the airline through a number of key strategic challenges covering the airline’s network, alliances, fleet management, revenue management, and aircraft and engines leases.

Al-Busaidy said: “I am pleased and proud to be returning to Oman Air in the pivotal position of chief operating officer. As a highly-regarded international airline, Oman Air holds vast potential to play an increased role in facilitating and promoting trade and tourism whilst strengthening and expanding the Sultanate’s air links to the rest of the world.

“I would like to thank everyone at Oman Air for the warm welcome they have given me and I look forward to working with them to deliver outstanding services throughout our business.” – TradeArabia News Service