Oman Air Cuts Workforce by 25% in Strategic Overhaul

Oman air has reduced its workforce substantially to direct its operations toward operational efficiency and long-term financial stability. Under the leadership of Eng. Saeed bin Hamoud Al Maawali the Minister for Transport Communications and Information Technology and Chairman for both Oman Air and Oman Airports the airline cut its total workforce by 1,000 positions which equaled to a quarter of its total personnel.

The job elimination plan focuses on a workforce structure deemed excessively large by authorities which exceeds the regional norms by having 45 percent of employees from non-core departments. Before the job cuts the airline maintained a workforce consisting of 4,300 staff members despite industry norms of 2,700 employees recommending this staff size.

The restructuring breakdown includes:

• 500 expatriate positions eliminated
• 400 Omani nationals affected
• 310 employees who accepted voluntary retirement packages

Affected employees not opting for voluntary retirement were offered alternative positions with unchanged salaries but reduced benefits, according to Al Maawali.