Middle Eastern carrier Oman Air is embarking on a strategic transformation plan, although the company has given few specific details on the effort.

Oman Air says the plan will include "fleet harmonisation" as well as "organisational restructuring" as well as measures to increase digital activity.

The carrier has yet to release its full-year 2018 financial results but it has been making heavy losses in recent years, with an operating loss of RO160 million ($416 million) in 2017.

Its fleet includes a mix of Airbus A330 and Boeing 787s, as well as Boeing 737s – some of which are the re-engined Max variant, currently grounded under the global prohibition. The carrier also has four Embraer 175s it has been attempting to sell.

Oman Air held a transformation conference on 3 September to discuss its strategic roadmap which, it says, has been developed with "company-wide input" over a period of months.

It says the plan requires its employees to "deliver operational improvements" and "work with an empowered focus", as well as bring forward suggestions for efficiency enhancements.

Chief executive Abdulaziz Al Raisi says the carrier's management is "committed" to achieving a number of targets by 2023, and that he has confidence in the company's personnel.

“Our transformation plan requires major changes, which can be disruptive, but we work in an industry of constant disruption and we must be proactive,” he says.

But he cautions that such an effort is "not an easy task", adding: "All of us, we need to drive this programme."

Oman Air is claiming an "improved performance" in 2019 with the carrier "ahead of its schedule" in terms of improving its efficiency.

Source: FlightGlobal.com