OAMC’s 2020 vision: ‘Growing gateways to beauty and opportunity’

Oman Airports Management Company is hosting this year’s ACI Airport Exchange, 5-7 December, as it prepares to open The New Muscat International Airport. Ahead of the event, Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO Oman Airports Management Company, and member of the ACI World Governing Board, shared his vision with Ross Falconer.

The Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) five-year transformation strategy to 2020 – ‘Growing gateways to beauty and opportunity’ – works hand-in-hand with the Sultanate’s expanding tourism, transport and logistics sectors.
Development of new airport infrastructure in Muscat, Salalah, Sohar and Duqm is being undertaken with a firm socio-economic focus, as well as an emphasis on showcasing the culture and heritage of Oman.

Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO Oman Airports Management Company, and member of the ACI World Governing Board: “OAMC is working towards ensuring that the opening of The New Muscat International Airport is a success. My strong belief is that if we are able to maintain and improve our excellence in airport management through the facilities we provide, the tourism sector will take Oman to a whole new level of success.”
“Our strategy is to be ranked among the top 20 airports in the world by 2020,” explains Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO Oman Airports Management Company. “OAMC is working towards ensuring that the opening of The New Muscat International Airport is a success. My strong belief is that if we are able to maintain and improve our excellence in airport management through the facilities we provide, the tourism sector will take Oman to a whole new level of success and economic growth.”
The forthcoming opening of The New Muscat International Airport, as well as the regional airports of Sohar and Duqm, builds on the opening of Salalah Airport in 2015.
Salalah, located 1,000km south of Muscat, and with a much cooler climate during the summer months, is a magnet for Omanis and other tourists from the region. This is reflected in the passenger numbers, which grew by almost 20% to 1.2 million in 2016. The year-to-date passenger figures for 2017 show continued growth. The new terminal was opened in 2015 and, following stage 2 of its expansion, the airport currently has a capacity of two million. Plans are place for stages 3 and 4 to accommodate four and six million annual passengers, when demand requires.
“A huge level of credit goes to SalamAir for its main operation in Salalah, allowing Omanis to travel to nearby destinations for an affordable price,” says Al Hosni. “A simple example I could give you would be that, initially, people from Muscat used to commute by either bus or car to Salalah as it was expensive to go by air. Now, people are opting to fly thanks to budget airlines like SalamAir. I can assure you that once The New Muscat International Airport opens, the number of flights and tourist visits will increase rapidly, allowing people from all walks of life to see and capture the essence of Oman.”
New Muscat International Airport “ready to be launched”
Passenger numbers at the existing Muscat Airport increased by 17.6% in the first eight months of 2017 to over nine million, with transfer traffic growing by approximately 30%. Oman Air has opened new routes most recently to Manchester, Nairobi and Guangzhou, stimulating the Muscat hub’s double-digit growth. Oman’s first low-cost carrier SalamAir also started operations this year, connecting Salalah and Muscat, as well as some new international routes, contributing to the growth of O&D traffic. Meanwhile, carriers from the Indian subcontinent, such as Jet Airways, Indigo and SpiceJet, have added frequencies to Muscat.
OAMC forecasts breaking its target of 14 million passengers at Muscat this year, and is now preparing for the seamless transition to the $1.8 billion (€1.5bn) New Muscat International Airport.

Oman Airports Management Company is preparing for the seamless transition to the $1.8 billion (€1.5bn) New Muscat International Airport. “I can say that the new Muscat Airport is all ready to be launched and anytime soon one can see how welcoming and incredible it looks and feels,” says Sheikh Aimen Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO OAMC.
“I can say that The New Muscat International Airport is all ready to be launched and anytime soon one can see how welcoming and incredible it looks and feels,” Al Hosni explains. “We are sending out teasers across the world, so that people are aware and informed of this new venture. On the other hand, OAMC will be constantly monitoring and adapting The New Muscat International Airport, so as to be able to meet the demands of customers and at the same time be internationally-acclaimed. We will also be closely working towards promoting and developing our other airports – Salalah, Sohar and Duqm – so as to raise our country’s economic level and be able to put forth four well-designed and experiential airports for the world to see, observe and explore.”
A true showcase of Omani culture and heritage
In January 2017, Al Hosni was elected to represent ACI Asia-Pacific on the ACI World Governing Board. “When looking at the recognition Oman Airports has been receiving on an international level, I am ecstatic that our hard work and dedication is proving fruitful,” he comments. “ACI World electing me to be part of its board gives me great pride in saying that our country, through its ongoing airport transformations, increase in airline traffic and other related ventures, is able to share space with the world’s leading developed countries in our very own distinctive way.”
OAMC is hosting this year’s ACI Airport Exchange in Muscat, providing a perfect showcase for Oman’s airports on the international stage. “It will allow us to present to the world what we are capable of and the standards we are setting for ourselves,” Al Hosni comments. “Using this platform, we will showcase not just our upcoming new Muscat Airport, but also Salalah, Duqm and Sohar airports, which on a smaller scale are able to achieve great targets for the country. My aim is to let the world know that Oman being a developing country has big dreams and aspirations.”
Indeed, ACI Airport Exchange delegates will have the opportunity to experience The New Muscat International Airport for themselves on an exclusive tour. “Our main objectives for 2018 and beyond are to develop and transform our New Muscat International Airport into a place that ensures customer satisfaction and delight, providing a true showcase of Omani culture and heritage,” Al Hosni concludes

source : https://tinyurl.com/yccjgvyc