Oman Air and Indonesia’s GMF AeroAsia have launched Oman GMF Technic, a joint venture that will establish the Sultanate’s first aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operation at Muscat International Airport.
The partnership marks
a significant development in Oman’s aviation sector, aiming to build domestic
aircraft maintenance capabilities, attract regional and international business
and strengthen the country’s position as a competitive aviation hub.
The announcement was
made at a ceremony held under the auspices of.Said Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information
Technology and Chairman of Oman Air, and Sulta Al
Habsi, Minister of Finance.
The new MRO facility,
recently opened by Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority, will provide base and line
maintenance services to airlines operating in Oman, alongside regional and
international customers.
The joint venture aims
to attract more aircraft maintenance business to the Sultanate, creating
commercial opportunities while reducing the aviation sector’s reliance on
overseas maintenance providers.
Nasser Al Sharji,
Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said, “This is an extremely proud moment
for the aviation sector in Oman. With GMF AeroAsia as our partner and a new
state-of-the-art facility, we have an opportunity to create a truly world-class
MRO operation in the Sultanate. We also want this to be a place where our
people have an excellent environment in which to work, develop and build their
careers. Our ambition is to serve our local airlines while attracting aircraft
and aviation business from across the region and beyond, creating new
opportunities and increasing the contribution our aviation sector makes to the
national economy.”
GMF CEO Andi
Fahrurrozi said, “Through our partnership with Oman Air, we aim to unlock
broader business opportunities while bringing Indonesia's aircraft maintenance
expertise and capabilities to the international market. GMF's presence in Oman
also provides valuable opportunities for our people to gain international
exposure, broaden their experience, and further develop their competencies
through direct involvement in the global MRO ecosystem. We are confident that
this expansion will strengthen GMF's international competitiveness, create
greater value for the aviation industries of both countries, and contribute
further to Indonesia's national economy through service exports.”
Developing local
aviation expertise will be a key priority for the joint venture. Through
knowledge transfer, technical training and access to GMF AeroAsia’s MRO
expertise, the partnership will support specialised engineering skills and
create new career opportunities for Omani nationals.
Oman’s strategic
location between major aviation markets, combined with its modern
infrastructure and connections to the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe, is
expected to support efforts to attract aircraft maintenance customers from
across international markets. -TradeArabia News Service