Oman Air continues to ensure that its community initiatives improve the life of Omani citizens by offering a 50 per cent discount to individuals travelling from families that come under the social insurance programme and their accompanying person.

This also includes those with special needs who may be travelling for medical treatment and study purposes.

Working in close co-ordination with the Ministry of Social Development, Oman Air aims to deliver a range of projects which provide assistance to eligible citizens to assist them in achieving their full potential.

Paul Gregorowitsch, chief executive officer of Oman Air, said: "At Oman Air we have expanded the range of our community initiatives to support eligible individuals reach their full potential and achieve a rewarding and balanced life. We have also provided vital backing for a range of educational, cultural and sporting initiatives which not only help to improve the lives of individuals, but also make an important contribution to the economic and social well-being of the sultanate.”

Dr Khalid Abdul Wahab Al Balushi, senior manager government relations, added: “Oman Air’s support for the work of the Ministry of Social Development stems from its endeavours to support the community to deliver a positive, long-term impact within our less advantaged communities.”

Oman Air has a record of providing sustained support for people with special needs. For example, the airline partnered with the Public Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises and the Al Raffd Fund to run a workshop in Muscat. Here, the importance of providing financial backing for students with special needs was emphasised, the availability of practical and financial support was outlined and students learned about the significance of economic independence.

Meanwhile, educational CSR initiatives have seen Oman Air partner with aircraft manufacturer Airbus to jointly host school workshops conducted in Muscat by The Little Engineer (TLE), an organisation dedicated to instilling an appreciation of science and technology among today’s youth. Oman Air has also joined forces with Boeing to run a training and recruitment skills programme for graduates of the High Technical College in Muscat. Additional educational support has included the donation of a large number of Arabic and English language books to Oman’s Maktabati project, which encourages children of all ages to improve their reading skills, develop a love of reading and undertake beneficial hobbies during their leisure time.

Oman Air has managed to increase its contribution to Oman’s GDP in 2016 to close to RO900 million ($2.3 billion) as per the latest studies of Oxford Economics. In addition, Oman Air was awarded Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year at the Aviation Business Awards in 2015. - TradeArabia News Service