Bangkok Flights

Oman Air is planning to significantly increase its capacity on the Bangkok - Muscat route. Oman's national carrier, which only started flying the route on Nov 29 last year, planned to use a high-capacity jetliner like a Boeing 767-300 and raise flight frequency to seven per week from five now starting in March.

On the route the airline now operates a Boeing 737-800, which offers 141 seats in a two-class configuration. It wants to deploy a Boeing 767-300, which would have 252 seats, including 24 in business class.

Bangkok is becoming a highly popular destination for Omanis, many of whom come here for medical services in addition to sun and sand. Last year, 38,000 Omanis visited Thailand and the numbers are expected to register annual double-digit growth, Mr Stephens stated.

Oman Air's plan to increase capacity on the route would also support the Sultanate's own tourism drive, as well as the bid to turn Muscat into an aviation hub for passengers connecting to other parts of the world using the airline's expanding international network.

There is also outbound traffic, including labour and corporate travellers, coming from Bangkok to Oman. Like many countries in the Middle East, Oman has a booming economy driven by jumping petroleum prices, according to the Oman Air executive.

The only other carrier that has long served the Bangkok-Muscat route is Thai Airways International. It operates wide-body jetliners, including a Boeing 777 series jet capable of carrying 300-plus passengers four times a week.