Oman Air from December will also fly to Rome. But in business, forget the Apex Suites
It has been at least fifteen years since Oman Air has been in the Italian market. Milan, in fact, was among the very first destinations of [...]
Oman Air
Oneworld
MCT
They are at least fifteen years that Oman Air has been in the Italian market. Milan, in fact, was among the very first long-haul destinations when the Sultanate airline decided to expand its network in Europe and Asia at the end of the first decade of the 2000s.
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Since then, in fleet Boeing 787s have arrived, which flanked the Airbus A330s. E A beautiful new airport has been opened in Muscat.. But Rome, as well as Italy's Capital one of Europe's leading air transport 'squares', Has continued to stay off the company's radar which recently joined the Oneworld alliance.
Until the announcement made in recent hours: Starting next Dec. 20, Oman Air will begin direct connections between its Muscat hub and Rome Fiumicino with four weekly frequencies on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flight WY 147 will leave Muscat at 3 p.m. to land at Italy's main airport at 7:30 p.m. In the opposite direction, WY148 will take off from Fiumicino at 8:30 p.m. to land in the Sultanate at 5:45 a.m. the next morning.
Rome thus joins the Middle Eastern carrier's six European destinations in its network: London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and, indeed, Malpensa. Which are all served with the company's flagship Boeing 787-9 configured with 30 Business Class Apex Suites and 258 Economy seats.
The Apex Suite is one of the best Business products in the world because although it is in a 2-2-2 configuration, it provides aisle access for all passengers, total privacy, 22-inch wide seats, and 17-inch IFE screens.
But this product at Roma Fiumicino will not be there, because Oman Air will fly to and from Muscat not with a wide-body Dreamliner, but with one of its 13 Boeing 737 MAX 8 who have 12 seats in Business in addition to 150 in Economy.
For those traveling in Economy, little or nothing will change, compared to the product offered by Oman Air on other European routes, since they will have a seat of the same width and similar legroom, as well as an individual screen for the 10, 2-inch IFE.
But everything will change for those who choose Business, as the 12 premium seats will be in three rows 2-2 with recliner seats and not lie-flat: a different world, compared to the Apex Suites, especially considering that the outbound flight to Muscat is overnight and the return flight is over 7 hours long. That is half an hour less than the one to Milan, which has suites.
