Oman Air will soon introduce a regional air pass to facilitate intra-Gulf multi-destination travel for international visitors in what is claimed to be a first for a regional airline.
The one-time fixed fare will permit unlimited travel within 14 days on Oman Air to its on-line points in the Gulf region, a report said. Currently Oman Air's Gulf destinations are Al Ain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Doha, Kuwait and Jeddah, and domestic points in Oman including Muscat, Salalah, Khassab and Dibba. The airline has obtained traffic rights for Bahrain and is expected to start services there soon. "For tourists travelling from Europe, Asia and Africa to the Middle East, higher fares for separate destinations probably act as a deterrent to exploring different places in the region," said Oman Air's country manager for UAE, Elhaam Al Busaidy. "The GCC air pass aims at providing a cost-effective solution, and should be attractive mainly to business visitors, but also to leisure travellers." The airline is confident that the concept, devised on the lines of the 'visit USA' or 'visit India' air pass, will be popular with international visitors. With fares at $500 or equivalent, the air pass will allow unlimited travel within a fortnight, giving flexibility in selecting flights. The passenger can arrive at any of the airline's on-line points and commence the journey. However, the passenger may not return to the same point more than once except for the purpose of transfer or connection. To buy an GCC air pass, the passenger must present proof of arrival in the GCC by air, such as a return international ticket. Ticketing of the air pass can be done outside the GCC through international airline partners of Oman Air or at its offices.