Oman Air unveils new business class

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Oman Air unveils new business class

Published: 13/03/2009 - Filed under: News »

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Oman Air has unveiled the new business class seat which will be fitted to its fleet of forthcoming A330-200 and 300 aircraft. The carrier has also announced new routes to Europe and Asia for later this year.

The new seat will be fitted in a 1-2-1 configuration across five rows, making a total of 20 seats in the new cabin. It will feature a fixed-shell fully-flat bed, with electronically-controlled back rest, leg rest and seat depth, and a seat width of 22 inches. The seat converts to a bed by sliding down to meet an ottoman, with the armrests also lowering to create more sleeping space.

Oman is refering to the ottoman as a “buddy seat”, and it is indeed large enough for a guest to sit at and dine with another person at the single-piece table. Other features of the seat include a drinks tray, a compartment for the headset, a 17-inch TV screen, two USB sockets, an ethernet RJ45 plug and a power socket for PCs.

Oman has fitted the aircraft with an audiovisual on demand (AVOD) in-flight entertainment system by Thales (in all classes), which features eight channels of live TV as well as the usual movies, music, games, etc. There will also be wifi internet access throughout the aircraft, as well as technology allowing mobile phone calls.

Economy will also see a revamp, with a one-piece composite seatback structure allowing for a generous 34-inch seat pitch. Other features include a four-way adjustable headrest and a footrest adjustable to three positions. The same AVOD facilities will be available (albeit on a smaller 10.6-inch TV screen), as will internet access and mobile phone usage.

This year Oman Air will take delivery of two Airbus A330-200 aircraft in a two-class business and economy layout, and two A330-300s which will also feature a new first-class product, due to be unveiled in July. The first of seven A330 aircraft on order is due to be delivered to the carrier in August.

As far as the London route goes, Oman will be replacing its current Airbus A310 aircraft (click here for a review) with A330s leased from Jet Airways in June. These aircraft feature a fully-flat bed in business class (configured 2-2-2), and will bridge the gap until Oman takes delivery of the new three-class A330-300s which will feature on the London route from November.

In other news Oman will add four more destinations to its portfolio this year, with Frankfurt, Paris, Colombo and Male all scheduled to be served from its base in Muscat. Flights to Frankfurt will commence on September 17 (with a six-weekly service), with the four-times weekly Paris route starting on October 11. Both these routes will be served with the new two-class A330-200 aircraft. A four-times weekly service to both Colombo and Male will also commence on October 12.

For more information visit omanair.aero.

Report by Mark Caswell