Oman Air operates from its home hub of Muscat and offers Australians a very solid premium option to Europe using partner airlines, from Australia into Asia (like Qantas, Malaysia Airlines, or Japan Airlines) before connecting onwards with Oman Air. They continue to be one of the best value Business Class products in the sky and still feel a little under the radar compared to some of the larger Middle Eastern airlines.

As one of the newer members of the oneworld alliance, Oman Air also allows travellers to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points and Status Credits while utilising the wider oneworld network and partner lounges around the world. To find out more about this alliance and what it means, read more here.

You can view our latest Oman Air Business Class deals to Europe or reach out to one of our airfare specialists to help plan your trip.

This Oman Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 Business Class cabin features just 12 seats in a 2-2 configuration. Despite not having direct aisle access for window seat passengers, the cabin still feels very modern and spacious with a premium fit-out throughout. The seat itself is surprisingly wide with a spacious feel and plenty of legroom in front. Compared to many other Boeing 737 Business Class products I’ve flown on, this definitely felt roomier with a noticeably wider seat and larger pitch.

It’s important to note this is not Oman Air’s Apex Suite product, with their fully flat beds and is typically used on some of their smaller aircraft and shorter regional routes. You can read our Oman Air Apex Suite review here.

Today’s flight from Muscat to Kuala Lumpur was approximately 6.5 hours, departing at 7:30am and honestly, I personally didn’t feel the need for a fully flat bed on this particular flight.

Upon boarding, passengers were offered a warm, refreshing towel along with a welcome drink. Since this was a morning departure, the initial options were orange juice or a watermelon and ginger juice. I did notice a couple of passengers request champagne instead, which the crew happily provided, so it definitely pays to ask if you’d prefer something different.

Service & Omani Hospitality

Once airborne, the welcoming service continued almost immediately. Passengers were offered traditional Omani coffee and dates shortly after take-off. As an Australian coffee lover, I’ll be honest, I usually avoid coffee on board aircraft altogether, however given this was part of the authentic Omani experience, I decided to say yes. The coffee had a unique, rich flavour and was very enjoyable.

Straight away, the cabin crew came across as warm, professional and very respectful throughout the entire flight. The service felt polished and remained consistently friendly the whole trip.

Technology & Entertainment

The technology onboard this flight was very impressive, and you can tell it's a recently fitted-out plane because of this. Firstly, the huge 17-inch touchscreen entertainment display immediately stands out. It’s extremely responsive, loaded with a great range of newer movies and TV shows and honestly… did I mention it's huge?

There’s also a smaller touchscreen remote controller built into the armrest, almost like a small smartphone, which allows you to control the entertainment system and various seat functions.

The seat also includes:

• Extendable privacy partition
• Adjustable reading light
• Electronic seat controls
• Universal power outlet
• USB-A charging port

Passengers are also provided with very nice noise-cancelling headphones stored inside a hard case (which looks very premium and impressive), along with a dedicated hook beside the seat to hang them when not in use.

Storage throughout the seat is also surprisingly practical for a narrow-bodied plane. There are smaller storage compartments beneath the armrests on both sides, which are perfect for phones, passports and personal belongings. Instead of a traditional seat pocket in front, there’s another narrow storage compartment beside the seat suitable for literature, books, tablets or a laptop.

A bottle of water is also placed inside the dedicated cup and bottle holder, which is actually a great little addition. The tray table folds out in two halves and feels large and sturdy enough to comfortably dine or work from during the flight.

Dining and Meal Service

After take-off, menus were distributed offering a selection of appetisers, mains, desserts and beverages including wines, champagne, spirits, beers and non-alcoholic drinks. Although this was technically a morning flight, the onboard meal service followed a lunch menu due to the flight duration and time zone adjustments.

One thing I personally appreciated was that Oman Air didn’t rush into the main meal service too quickly after departure. It honestly hadn’t been that long since breakfast at my hotel, so having a bit more time and some snacks before the main meal service was actually really nice. Before the meal, warm nuts and another beverage were offered. I chose a glass of Gremillet Blanc De Noirs NV Brut Champagne.

Some menu highlights included:

• Traditional Arabic mezze plate
• Beef spinach roulade
• Dal makhani

Dessert options included:

• Seasonal fruit plate with mango compote
• Praline chocolate cake
• Cheese plate

Straight away, the crew came over to me and advised that they had received my special meal request and already knew which meals from the Business Class menu would accommodate my dietary requirements. That said, I did ask if I could swap the appetiser salad they had assigned to me for the Arabic mezze instead because that’s always such a delicious way to start a meal, and the crew were more than happy to accommodate the request. My main meal was chicken breast with tomato sauce, seasoned potatoes, broccoli and carrots, followed by a fresh fruit plate for dessert.

Amenities

It’s important to note that Oman Air does not provide a traditional Business Class amenity kit on these Boeing 737 flights due to the smaller narrow-body aircraft operating shorter regional sectors. However, inside the Business Class bathroom, there were still several comfort items available, including Dental kits, Hand Lotion and Face mist.

Seat Comfort, Recline & Bedding

While this seat does not convert into a fully flat bed, I personally didn’t see that as a major issue for this particular daytime flight. Again, departing at 7:30am for a 6.5 hour journey, I honestly didn’t really feel the need to lie completely flat and sleep. What mattered more to me was how spacious and comfortable the seat felt, which it absolutely delivered on.

Compared to many other Boeing 737 Business Class products I’ve experienced, this seat felt noticeably wider with much better pitch and overall personal space. Passengers are provided with a large pillow and plush blanket, which I found to be more than enough to get comfortable while watching a movie or simply relaxing during the flight.

The seat itself is fully electronically adjustable, allowing you to customise the exact recline position you want, including footrest adjustment, back recline adjustment, and adjustable headrest support. Plus, there are also quick selection buttons for fully upright and reclined seating positions.

For reference, Oman Air’s Boeing 737 Business Class seat offers approximately:

• Seat Width: 21 inches
• Seat Pitch: 46 inches

Oman Air Stopover Program

One of the best ways to maximise an Oman Air itinerary to Europe is by adding a stopover in Muscat, giving travellers the chance to break up the journey and experience one of the region’s most underrated and breathtaking destinations.

Oman Air offers flexible stopover options in Muscat, ranging from 1 - 4 days, making it easy to add a short stay to your itinerary before continuing onwards to Europe. Whether you are looking for a quick overnight break or a few days to explore the sites and the culture, reach out to our team to add a Muscat stopover to your trip.

Final Thoughts

Oman Air Business Class on the Boeing 737 MAX 8 delivers a very impressive Business Class experience and continues to offer excellent value compared to many competing airlines. While this specific aircraft may not feature a fully flat bed or direct aisle access, the cabin still feels modern and spacious, the onboard service is genuinely warm and polished, and I couldn't fault the overall comfort level.

Our team of Business Class experts can also help ensure that you are on an aircraft with their Apex Suite product with fully flat beds, whenever available. Once you add in the ability to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points and Status Credits, utilise the oneworld network and potentially include a stopover in Oman, it becomes a very attractive option for Australians heading to Europe.

You can view our latest Oman Air Business Class deals or speak with one of our airfare specialists to help plan your next journey.