Oman Air Appoints Nasser Al Sharji as Chief Executive Officer

Muscat, Oman: Oman Air has appointed Nasser Al Sharji as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2026, placing an executive with extensive aviation and infrastructure experience in charge of its next phase of transformation.

The appointment, announced on August 20, follows the tenure of Con Korfiatis, who had served as CEO since May 2024. Korfiatis will continue supporting the airline as Advisor to the CEO, providing continuity as leadership responsibilities pass to Al Sharji.

Experience Across Oman’s Aviation Ecosystem

Al Sharji brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across aviation, logistics, energy and public services. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Transom Handling and Acting Chief Executive Officer of Oman Airports Management Company.

His earlier career includes senior positions at ASYAD Group, OQ and Nama Water Services. According to Oman Air, his responsibilities have included major national projects and organisational transformation initiatives.

He holds an Executive MBA and has served on boards and chaired committees across multiple sectors. Announcing his appointment, the airline emphasised his understanding of aviation and his experience leading organisations through operational and structural change.

Oman Air also credited Korfiatis with progress in financial sustainability, operational efficiency and organisational effectiveness during his leadership. The continuation of an advisory role provides an established channel for transferring knowledge about the airline’s ongoing programme.

Building on Recent Commercial Progress

The leadership change follows a year of improved passenger performance. Oman Air reported carrying 5.8 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 8% compared with 2024.

The airline said 64% of its passengers were travelling directly into Oman, with this segment increasing by 34% year on year. It also reported expansion through new routes, additional frequencies and partnerships.

Domestic connectivity remained part of that development. On the Muscat–Salalah route, the airline increased available seats by 17% in 2025 and carried 19% more passengers than in the previous year.

These figures provide context for Al Sharji’s appointment: he inherits a business reporting commercial progress while still working towards the broader objectives of its transformation programme, which began in 2023.

A Wider International Platform

Another important development was Oman Air’s entry into the oneworld alliance in June 2025. The airline became the alliance’s fifteenth member, adding a new dimension to its international connectivity and passenger proposition.

Alliance membership can create opportunities through connecting itineraries, shared customer benefits and access to travellers beyond an airline’s own route network. However, commercial value depends on how effectively those opportunities translate into bookings, revenue and customer loyalty.

For the incoming CEO, the broader management challenge is to connect network decisions with financial discipline. An attractive destination may strengthen the airline’s profile, but its contribution must be considered alongside aircraft utilisation, operating costs and the quality of passenger demand.

Why His Operational Background Matters

Al Sharji’s experience in airports and ground handling gives him familiarity with parts of the passenger journey that sit beyond the aircraft cabin. That perspective is relevant because airline reliability depends on coordination between numerous organisations and operational teams.

A delay in one part of the system can affect aircraft rotations, baggage handling, passenger connections and crew schedules. Understanding these interdependencies can help an executive ask more informed questions about service performance and operational bottlenecks.

This does not establish that any particular improvement will follow from the appointment. It does explain why experience across the wider aviation ecosystem can be valuable when leading a carrier through change.

The challenge will be to convert that experience into consistent execution while maintaining clear accountability across the airline’s own operations and external partnerships.

Commercial Discipline and Oman’s Connectivity

Oman Air’s role also extends beyond the financial performance of individual flights. Its network connects Oman with international visitors and supports domestic travel.

From an analytical perspective, this creates a balancing task. The airline must assess its commercial sustainability while recognising the wider importance of reliable connectivity for tourism, business travel and local communities.

Passenger growth alone cannot resolve that balance. Management also needs to understand whether additional traffic produces an appropriate financial contribution and whether the network supports repeat demand.

A sustainable improvement would therefore involve several measures moving together: stronger operating performance, dependable service, commercially sound routes and careful deployment of aircraft and capital.

What Comes Next

Al Sharji’s tenure will be assessed through the continuation of Oman Air’s transformation, including progress towards financial breakeven, operational efficiency and service quality. These were identified by the airline as central objectives of its programme.

His appointment combines a leadership change with an effort to preserve institutional continuity. The next stage will test how effectively Oman Air can build on its passenger growth and international partnerships while developing a more financially resilient operating model.