Oman Air has appointed Nasser Al Sharji as CEO from September 1 while SalamAir named Eng. Yaqoob Al Kiyumi as CEO from October 1, marking simultaneous leadership transitions across Oman’s two main carriers.
By Imran Malik | Aviation & Business Desk | SharjahNews.ae | MediaBites.com.pk
Oman’s aviation sector is undergoing one of its most significant leadership transitions in recent memory. Within the same week, both of the Sultanate’s main commercial airlines have announced new Chief Executive Officers, signaling a coordinated strategic reset for Omani aviation at a moment when the region’s geopolitical and commercial landscape is shifting rapidly.
Oman Air has appointed Nasser Al Sharji as Chief Executive Officer, effective September 1, 2026, while SalamAir has named Eng. Yaqoob bin Saif bin Hamoud Al Kiyumi as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2026.
Oman Air — Nasser Al Sharji Takes the Helm
Nasser Al Sharji brings more than 25 years of executive leadership across aviation, logistics, oil and gas, and government services to his new role as Oman Air CEO.
His career spans some of Oman’s most significant institutional names. He has held senior leadership positions at ASYAD Group, OQ, and Nama Water Services, leading major national projects and organizational transformation initiatives at each. Most directly relevant to his new role, he served as CEO of Transom Handling and as acting Chief Executive Officer of Oman Airports Management Company, giving him hands-on experience of aviation operations at the institutional level.
Saeed Al Mawali, Chairman of Oman Air and Oman’s Minister of Transformation, Communications and Information Technology, was direct about what the appointment signals.
“Nasser brings extensive leadership experience, a strong understanding of the aviation sector and a proven track record of leading organizations through transformation and change,” Al Mawali said. “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.”
Al Mawali also expressed appreciation for outgoing CEO Con Korfiatis, who has led Oman Air since May 2024 and will remain with the airline as Advisor to the CEO, providing continuity and guidance through the transition. Under Korfiatis, the airline made significant progress toward greater financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and organizational effectiveness during one of the most significant periods of transformation in its history.
SalamAir — Eng. Yaqoob Al Kiyumi Leads the Next Chapter
SalamAir, Oman’s low-cost carrier, has simultaneously announced its leadership transition, appointing Eng. Yaqoob bin Saif bin Hamoud Al Kiyumi as CEO from October 1, 2026.
The SalamAir board described the appointment as marking “a new chapter in SalamAir’s journey” as the airline continues to advance its strategic priorities around sustainable growth, operational excellence, enhanced customer experience, and strengthening Oman’s aviation connectivity with the wider world.
The board extended sincere appreciation to outgoing CEO Adrian Hamilton-Manns for his leadership, dedication, and contributions during his tenure, and expressed confidence that Al Kiyumi’s leadership will support SalamAir’s continued growth and its commitment to providing affordable and accessible air travel.
Why This Matters for the Region
The simultaneous leadership transitions at both Oman Air and SalamAir arrive at a moment of extraordinary regional significance for Omani aviation.
Oman has emerged as the Gulf’s most critical diplomatic hub during the US-Iran conflict, with negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz placing Muscat at the center of global geopolitical attention. Aviation connectivity is both a commercial and a diplomatic asset for a country whose international relationships and mediating role have never been more consequential.
For the approximately 2.5 million South Asian workers and expatriates in Oman, including a significant Pakistani community, Oman Air and SalamAir’s routes and pricing directly affect their ability to travel home affordably and frequently. Leadership transitions that prioritize operational excellence and route expansion will be felt personally across that community.
For SharjahNews.ae and MediaBites.com.pk’s Gulf audience, both airlines are essential connectors between the broader UAE and Omani markets and the South Asian diaspora communities both publications serve.
Both new CEOs begin their tenures with transformation agendas that the outgoing leadership has begun and that the coming years will test against a competitive Gulf aviation market that has never been more dynamic or more demanding.
— Imran Malik | Aviation and Business Desk | SharjahNews.ae | MediaBites.com.pk
