SalamAir (OV, Muscat) has announced a deal with lessor Avolon to take three A330-900Ns, with the first delivery expected in October. The carrier signed a letter of intent with Avolon on June 19 at the Paris Air Show.

The three Airbus widebodies will provide a big capacity boost to the Omani low-cost airline, which currently flies six A320-200Ns, one A321-200(P2F), three A321-200Ns, and two A321-200NX(LR)s.

"By adding the A330N to the fleet, SalamAir aims to enhance its capacity, meet the growing demands of the market, and attract more inbound tourists," said SalamAir CEO Mohamed Ahmed. "The extended range of the A330N will allow SalamAir to efficiently serve medium-range destinations, particularly in the Far East and Europe. This expanded reach not only improves passenger convenience but also enhances the airline's competitiveness in the market. It enables SalamAir to strengthen its network and seize opportunities for further growth and expansion."

Ahmed told ch-aviation earlier this year that while adding a widebody aircraft was inherently challenging for a low-cost carrier, there were examples of carriers doing this profitably. "It's a big step, and it needs a lot of other things to be done for it to be successful. We are not in a rush for it, but if we will find that it's going to add to the bottom line and profitability, of course, why not," he said then.

In addition to the three A330-900Ns, the ch-aviation fleets module shows that SalamAir also expects delivery of six ERJ 190-400s and another two A321-200Ns. The airline presently flies to 50 destinations in 24 countries, with its present fleet operating scheduled flights as far as Prague Václav Havel in the west and Kuala Lumpur International in the east.