Oman's first budget airline named 'Salam Air'

Muscat - The name which means greeting in Arabic, is a result of a nationwide public poll conducted on the online social networking platform.

Oman's first budget airline will fly under the brand name of "Salam Air," the Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS) announced on Tuesday.

The name which means greeting in Arabic, is a result of a nationwide public poll conducted on the online social networking platform, Twitter and ASAAS' corporate website and will pay homage to Oman's deeply-rooted culture and long-standing history as an ambassador of peace.

"From the get-go, we were adamant about involving the general public in the process," explained CEO, Eng. Khalid bin Hilal Al Yahmadi. A call for suggested names was announced on Twitter that received an overwhelming response in a short span of time. After internal discussions with Board Members and key government entities, eight names were shortlisted and a public poll was conducted that received close to 3,000 responses.

Eng. Khalid bin Hilal Al Yahmadi

"The beauty of the word Salam is that it is a homonym. It means safety which is of fundamental importance in the aviation industry but also peace, which characterizes the quintessence of Oman as a progressive nation under the visionary leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, " said Eng. Al Yahmadi.

"Part of our Arabic greeting, the word 'Salam' is also very well-known by people from around the world. It is simple, memorable and meaningful and that is exactly what we were looking for in a name. I would like to convey my personal gratitude to each and every person who participated during the naming process of an airline that will redefine air travel as we know it," he said.

With air traffic demand expected to grow by 40% by 2019, Salam Air is anticipated to fuel economic growth by providing access to economical and efficient means of transport and further advance the aviation sector in Oman.

• MENA
• Oman
• MENA