Oman Air introduced the first Boeing Next-Generation 737 to the Persian Gulf region this week with the delivery of a 737-800. This is the first of five new 737s that will replace Oman Air's current fleet of Airbus A310s and older Boeing airplanes. The 737-800 is leased from International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) and is part of an order announced earlier this year that also includes four 737-700s.
"The selection of the 737 was a strategic decision," said Oman Air General Manager Abdul Rahman Al-Busaidy. "The new 737 will enable us to offer our passengers the most in comfort and reliability, and it will help us achieve our targets for operational efficiency."
The Muscat-based regional carrier forecasts fuel consumption savings of 50 percent over its current fleet of A310s as well as a significant reduction in maintenance costs. With nearly 1,000 Next-Generation 737s in service, the new 737 brand has become the best-selling commercial jet in commercial aviation history, according to a Boeing release.
Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman is a flight partner with Gulf Air and SwissAir. It operates to international and domestic destinations including Abu Dhabi, Al-Ain, Chennai, Colombo, Dhaka, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Khasab, Kuwait, Kochi, Mumbai, Salalah and Trivandrum.
ILFC, based in Los Angeles, has the world's largest portfolio of aircraft in terms of asset value. A Boeing customer since 1977, ILFC has since ordered approximately 650 new Boeing jetliners, more than any other customer. — (menareport.com)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
