Oman’s SalamAir has taken delivery of its first A321neo aircraft. The A321neo delivers high levels of passenger comfort while expanding seating capacity through optimised use of cabin space. The new plane will complement SalamAir’s existing fleet of six A320neo aircraft.

With the induction of the A321neo, SalamAir has become the first airline in the country to introduce the aircraft to its fleet. The aircraft’s extra range capability of eight hours meets the ambitious plans of the airline. SalamAir can now connect Muscat and Salalah to new destinations across Europe, the Far East and Africa. The updated fleet mix will enable SalamAir to diversify its portfolio and support the Sultanate of Oman’s tourism industry vision.

Masirah, the name of the aircraft, offers a new “all-inclusive” fare class. The premium class cabin is in response to passengers’ desire to have bundled services that cater to their travel needs. The seating capacity of the new aircraft will be 212 seats equipped with USB ports, HEPA air filtration system and leather seats.

The next generation A321 aircraft developed by Airbus has a new engine option (NEO). To elevate the passenger experience, it offers additional seating capacity while allowing augmented use of cabin space. A redesigned cabin door configuration and supplementary exit limits lifts the comfort quotient of the aircraft.

“We are pleased to introduce the newest A321neo aircraft into our fleet as we continue to expand our network. The induction of the A321neo aircraft marks another step towards meeting the needs of international, regional, and domestic passengers in the perpetually growing aviation market”, said SalamAir CEO Captain Mohamed Ahmed.

“The employment of this aircraft in our fleet, with its additional range and extra 32 seats, will support the growth plans of our airline’s network. We are honoured to supplement our  fleet with a new aircraft that offers lower operating costs, superior eco commitment and greater comfort for our passengers.”

He added: “We are also delighted that SalamAir is well-positioned to be part of and help accelerate Oman’s air travel growth and Vison Oman 2040, since contributing to the growth of the country is one of the main goals of our company.”

Last month, Delta Air Lines announced that it had ordered 30 more Airbus A321neo aircraft to help meet the airline’s future fleet requirements. The newly ordered aircraft are in addition to the airline’s existing orders for 125 of the same type, bringing the outstanding orders from Delta to a total of 155 A321neos.