Oman Air (WY, Muscat) has taken delivery of a B737-800(BCF), its first maindeck freighter. Boeing confirmed the handover of A4O-BU (msn 35108) via a November 14, 2023, statement, saying it would contribute to continued cargo capacity growth at the airline.
The 15.7-year-old aircraft had operated at Oman Air since 2008 as a passenger jet but was ferried to the Taikoo (Shandong) Aircraft Engineering Co. Ltd. (STAECO) facility at Jinan in July for conversion. At the time of publication, A4O-BU remains in China.
"The freighter will contribute to the growth of the air cargo logistics sector in Oman and beyond, will be based at our strategically located Muscat hub and will enhance our ability to connect East and West," said an Oman Air spokesperson.
To date, Oman Air has exclusively operated passenger-configured aircraft. Its current fleet comprises four A330-200s, six A330-300s, thirteen B737-8s, nine B737-800s, five B737-900ERs, two B787-8s, and seven B787-9s, ch-aviation fleets data shows. However, the airline's cargo volumes are growing - up 42% in the first six months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. Until now, that cargo has travelled in the belly holds of the passenger aircraft. The only other Oman-based operator of a comparable-sized freighter is SalamAir (OV, Muscat), which has flown an A321-200(P2F) since 2022.
