Oman Air Finally Joins Oneworld

After nearly three years of waiting, Oman Air will finally join the oneworld alliance on Monday, June 30, 2025. This development, first announced back in 2022, represents a significant milestone for UK points collectors who've been patiently watching this slow-burn integration unfold.

A Boutique Addition to Oneworld

Oman Air operates a fleet of roughly 30 aircraft, including Boeing 737s and Boeing 787s, making it decidedly more boutique than the Middle Eastern giants we're accustomed to. But don't let the size fool you - this Muscat-based carrier punches well above its weight when it comes to product quality.

What's particularly exciting is Oman Air's incredible business class product with Apex Suites, which are among the best business class seats available. For UK travellers looking to reach destinations in the Indian Ocean or Southeast Asia, this could open up some genuinely compelling redemption opportunities using Avios.

The Qatar Airways Connection

The most intriguing aspect of this development is the relationship between Qatar Airways and Oman Air. Qatar Airways is even currently leasing planes from Oman Air, and the airlines view themselves more as partners than rivals. This cooperative approach is fascinating, especially considering they're both Gulf carriers operating in a region where competition can be fierce.

From a UK perspective, this partnership could be brilliant news. Qatar Airways has been steadily building its position as the go-to oneworld carrier for reaching Asia and beyond from the UK, and having Oman Air as a complementary partner rather than a competitor should strengthen both airlines' offerings.

What This Means for Your Points Strategy

For UK Avios collectors, Oman Air's oneworld entry creates some interesting possibilities:

New Redemption Routes: Oman Air flies as far West as the UK, and as far East as the Philippines, potentially opening up new sweet spots in the Avios award chart. Muscat could become a strategic stopover point for onward travel to destinations Qatar Airways doesn't serve directly.

Elite Recognition: Oneworld offers the strongest elite recognition of any major alliance, which means your British Airways Gold status will be recognised on Oman Air flights. Given the airline's premium cabin quality, this could be particularly valuable.

Earning Opportunities: Once fully integrated, you'll be able to earn Avios on Oman Air flights, though the earning rates remain to be confirmed.

A Personal Perspective

Having achieved British Airways Gold status myself, I'm genuinely excited about this development. The prospect of using that status on Oman Air's excellent Apex Suites business class is particularly appealing.

What's also encouraging is that Alaska Mileage Plan and Qantas Frequent Flyer already allow you to redeem miles on Oman Air, ahead of the airline joining the alliance. This suggests the technical integration is well advanced, which bodes well for a smooth launch.

The Bigger Picture

In some ways it's surprising that oneworld is the alliance Oman Air is joining, as Star Alliance doesn't have any airlines immediately from that region. However, the Qatar Airways connection makes perfect sense from a strategic standpoint.

For oneworld as a whole, this addition strengthens the alliance's position in a strategically important region. While Oman Air might be smaller than its Gulf neighbours, it fills geographical gaps and provides redundancy in a region where political tensions can occasionally impact route planning.

Looking Ahead

The integration process has been lengthy - around three years from announcement to implementation - but that thoroughness should hopefully translate into a smooth member experience from day one.

For UK travellers, I'd recommend keeping an eye on how the Avios award chart treats Oman Air routes once the integration is complete. The airline's network could provide some interesting alternatives to the usual Qatar Airways routing for certain destinations.

You can start planning potential redemptions using our Award Travel Finder tool, and calculate how many Avios points you'll need for different routes once Oman Air is fully integrated.

The oneworld alliance continues to evolve, and Oman Air's addition represents another step forward in making the alliance more comprehensive for UK-based frequent flyers. While we wait for the final integration details, it's worth noting that this boutique carrier could become a genuine gem in the oneworld crown.