Oman and India signed on Tuesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost air traffic between the two countries, reported the Gulf News.
The agreement allows Oman Air the right to operate three weekly flights from Muscat to Kochi in Kerala from August 22, according to Abdullah bin Nassir Al Maskari, director of air transport.
He said Oman Air had also gained additional operational access to Mumbai and Chennai. It was also agreed to allow India's national carriers to fly directly to Salalah.
"Oman Air is proud to be the first foreign scheduled airline to operate to Kochi, the beautiful city in southern India," said general manager Abdul Rehman Harrith Al Busaidi, in a statement cited by the paper.
Busaidi said there would be three flights a week, the first leaving Seeb International Airport on August 22.
"The frequency will be increased to four by adding Saturday also to the schedule with effect from September 1...in keeping with the understanding that Oman Air will operate 600 weekly seats to Kochi."
He said the agreement also allowed Oman Air 400 additional seats on its operation to Mumbai and Chennai on a reciprocal basis, while the designated Indian carriers (Air India and Indian Airlines) had been granted Salalah as an additional point of operation in Oman – Albawaba.com
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