Oman Air chief Abdulaziz Al Raisi has given an ultimatum to Boeing over the grounding of the 737 MAX aircraft.
Speaking to media at the unveiling of the airline’s new crew uniform at London Heathrow Airport, he said unless he gets a ‘recovery and support plan’ from Boeing before the Paris Air Show next week, he’ll be meeting with Airbus.
The airline’s CEO said the grounding of the Boeing jet, after two fatal crashes, has had a major financial impact on Oman Air.
He said the airline has been forced to significantly scale back its expansion plans for 2019 after having to ground five MAXs and delay the delivery of a further three.
He said the airline has also suffered revenue losses and market share declines, particularly in its home market of Oman.
Al Raisi said he met with Boeing’s top officials in Muscat recently and was promised a recovery and support plan that would be submitted to the airline before the upcoming Paris Airshow on June 17.
"If I don’t hear back from Boeing before I arrive at Le Bourget Airport, then I will have to go ahead with my planned meeting with Airbus at the airshow," he told journalists.
