Oman Air invests further in staff training

Oman Air’s board of directors has approved plans to fund full scholarships for 100 employees, enabling them to improve their academic qualifications in a range of administrative and technical disciplines. The initiative builds on existing training opportunities, such as Oman Air covering 75% of tuition fees on approved courses and offering unpaid study leave. 

Each of the moves will be overseen by the Oman Air Training and Development Centre, which is recognized internationally for its quality and has been named by IATA for the last two years as one of the Top Ten Training Centres in the Middle East. 

Oman Air Chief Executive Officer Wayne Pearce said: “One of Oman Air’s greatest assets is its people and we are proud to be investing in increased training opportunities over the coming year. 

“The training we have provided to staff over the last two years is already paying off, both for individual members of staff and for the company as a whole. To date, 26 candidates who have benefitted from Oman Air’s funding have graduated from RMIT, one of Australia’s internationally approved aviation colleges, and are now undergoing practical training. In addition, we have funded an average of ten trainee engineers per year through to full qualification, and are currently training 100 candidates as passenger service staff, 30 as ramp service staff and 30 as cargo service staff. Furthermore, we have 77 commercial pilot’s license holders working towards qualification as First Officers.” 

Pearce added: “We now have staff placed at every level of Oman Air who have been assisted by the superb standard of training offered by our Training and Development Centre. It is gratifying to see the invaluable contribution that graduates are making to the ongoing success of Oman Air and to the economic prosperity of the Sultanate of Oman.” 

The Oman Air Training and Development Centre was established to improve the professional skills and academic qualifications of employees, and to develop and raise awareness of the latest developments within Oman Air and the broader aviation industry. Over the last 20 years, it has developed an enviable reputation for delivering the highest standards of training, implementing a range of specialised training courses and working with acknowledged industry experts and training partners. Its well-qualified staff and outstanding facilities also make it a much sought-after venue for external organisations. 

Saleh bin Abdullah Al Zadjali, senior manager, training and development centre at Oman Air added: 

“With the invaluable support of Oman Air’s Board and senior managers, the Training and Development Centre has delivered a range of specialised international training programmes that have provided career development for trainees and strengthened Oman Air’s staff teams. 

“We have worked closely with every department within Oman Air to create training plans which support Oman Air’s commitment to providing services of the highest standard and offering customers an unbeatable passenger experience. We now look forward to building on our excellent track record by developing and implementing integrated training programmes that both meets the needs of both Oman Air’s individual staff members and support Oman Air in its ongoing mission to provide all our customers with the very best that 21st Century air travel has to offer.”