SalamAir eyes expansion in India

Oman’s low-cost carrier SalamAir is eyeing a network expansion in India via Goa and Navi Mumbai routes, CEO Hamilton-Manns told Oman Daily Observer. The budget airline is also looking to expand its footprint deeper into the market, expressing strong interest in launching future services to Hyderabad, Nagpur, Guwahati, and Kolkata

India is a “powerhouse of growth” for the airline, he said, citing strong demand and the market’s familiarity with low-cost travel. SalamAir plans to expand its fleet to 18 aircrafts this year, although growth has been constrained by engine shortages that left around one-third of its fleet grounded.

Why it matters: While the airline is eager to unlock new destinations, its immediate operational priority will be to scale up flight frequencies on its existing Indian routes. Any meaningful capacity expansion remains strictly contingent on Muscat and New Delhi renegotiating their bilateral air service agreements which put a limit on seat quotas. As primary hubs become increasingly saturated, secondary Indian cities are emerging as the next frontier for Gulf carriers looking to capture untapped passenger demand along migrant labour and tourist corridors.