Officials from Airbus, SalamAir and SMBC Aviation Capital pictured as the LCC took on its latest A321neo.
Oman’s low-cost carrier SalamAir has added its 15th aircraft, an Airbus A321neo leased from SMBC Aviation Capital, marking progress toward its goal of reaching 25 aircraft by 2028.
Chairman Mohamed Al Khonji says the move aligns with Oman Vision 2040, the country’s long-term plan to drive economic diversification and boost tourism.
“We firmly believe that Vision 2040 will be achieved through ambitious, forward-looking growth,” Al Khonji says. “By comparison, both SalamAir and Oman Air combined operate no more than 46 aircraft with a population of around five million, which shows Oman’s substantial headroom for growth. With our 15th aircraft delivered, we are inaugurating a new phase in our growth journey.”
The airline, which operates a network out of Omani capital Muscat, said the expansion is not only about fleet size but also network growth.
SalamAir plans to boost frequencies to Nairobi, launch new services to Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia, strengthen its presence in Saudi Arabia, resume flights to Beirut, and introduce a new route to Medan, Indonesia.
Adrian Hamilton-Manns, CEO of SalamAir, says that the latest delivery will also support job creation. “The expansion will allow SalamAir to offer more competitive fares, add new routes, and expand flights in line with market demand. It will also create 182 jobs, increasing our workforce by 24% over the next 12 months,” he says.
Founded in 2017 by the Muscat National Development Investment Company, SalamAir now operates a fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft, with more than 80 daily flights. The airline projects passenger numbers to climb from 3.2 million in 2024 to more than four million in 2025—a 25% increase.
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