Middle East Business
Oman changes the chief executive of both its airlines on the same day
By Staff Writer | 22 August 2026
Nasser al Sharji takes charge of Oman Air from 1 September and Yaqoob al Kiyumi takes over at SalamAir from 1 October, with the outgoing Oman Air chief staying on as adviser.
Both of Oman's airlines named new chief executives on Thursday. Nasser al Sharji becomes chief executive of Oman Air on 1 September 2026. Yaqoob bin Saif bin Hamoud al Kiyumi becomes chief executive of SalamAir on 1 October. The two announcements were made separately and on the same day.
Al Sharji arrives with more than 25 years in executive roles across aviation, logistics and oil and gas government services. He has held senior positions at Asyad Group, at OQ and at Nama Water Services, and most recently served as chief executive of Transom Handling and acting chief executive of Oman Airports Management Company.
Nasser brings extensive leadership experience, a strong understanding of the aviation sector and a proven track record of leading organisations through transformation and change. We are confident that, under his leadership, Oman Air will continue to build on the significant progress achieved in recent years and further strengthen its position as Oman's national carrier.
Saeed al Mawali, Chairman of Oman Air
A handover with the previous chief still in the building
Con Korfiatis, chief executive of Oman Air since May 2024, does not leave. He stays on as adviser to the chief executive, which the airline describes as providing continuity through the change. That is an unusual arrangement and a deliberate one, and it says something about how far through a programme of work the airline believes it is.
The airline restructured its route strategy in 2023, moving away from competing directly with the large connecting carriers and towards higher yield point to point traffic and direct visitor flows into the country. It joined the oneworld alliance in mid-2025 and has added services to Singapore, Amsterdam and Copenhagen. It recorded its first operational profit in 15 years, has reduced bank borrowing and operational losses, and is working towards financial break even.
What it means for anyone selling into Omani aviation
Two national carriers changing chief executive inside five weeks is the point at which capital programmes, fleet plans and supplier arrangements get reopened. Anyone holding a live tender, a framework or an unresolved account with either airline should expect the review to reach it.
SalamAir has said only that the appointment marks a new stage and that its priorities are growth, operational performance, customer experience and connectivity between Oman and the rest of the world. Its board thanked Adrian Hamilton-Manns for his time as chief executive. No detail has been published about the scope of either man's mandate, about any change to fleet or network plans, or about whether the two airlines' strategies will be brought closer together.
Until that detail appears, what is on the record is a date, a name and a carrier that has come back to operational profit for the first time since 2011.