Overview & First Impressions
Our journey began with a candid disclosure: these tickets for Oman Air's Business Class were complimentary. As long-time reviewers for Simply Aviation, we maintain a commitment to fair, factual, and unbiased reporting, a principle Oman Air explicitly acknowledged by granting us full editorial control. This trip served our mission to review Oman Air's Business Class, a product we wouldn't typically cover due to its niche market and our focus on economy class reviews. However, with Oman Air's recent entry into the OneWorld Alliance and a simplified fleet of Boeing 787-9s, their premium offerings warrant a closer look.
The airline has streamlined its widebody fleet to exclusively eight (soon to be nine) Boeing 787-9s, retiring its A330s and even the 787-8s. Notably, two of these 787-9s feature what were once First Class suites, now rebranded as 'Business Studio' – an enhanced Business Class product. This concept of a 'premium business class' is gaining traction across the industry, with airlines like Condor and Virgin Atlantic offering similar upgrades. Our itinerary included an outbound flight in the Business Studio from Muscat to Bangkok, followed by a return in their regular Business Class, allowing for a comprehensive comparison.
Upon arrival at Muscat International Airport, the dedicated premium check-in area was a seamless experience. Staff waited curbside to assist with luggage, leading to a comfortable waiting area and a quick check-in process. The dedicated premium passport control and security lane ensured we were from curb to lounge in a mere 15 minutes, an efficiency that would impress any seasoned traveler.
The Muscat Oman Air Lounge, a consolidated space for all premium customers, is sizable and well-appointed. It features diverse seating zones, including areas with natural light and cozier nooks. The dining experience was a highlight, with an à la carte section offering superb options like the South Indian breakfast and commendable pancakes. While some dishes were pre-prepared, the staff's attentiveness and the overall quality of food and beverages were exceptional. However, the lounge had notable drawbacks: shower rooms lacked basic amenities like sinks and hairdryers, the 'cigar lounge' was a bland smoking room, and the Wi-Fi was surprisingly poor, a persistent issue across the entire airport. An inaccessible outdoor terrace also felt like a missed opportunity. Despite these flaws, the lounge's size, food, and staff made it a pleasant pre-flight stop.
The Details
Our outbound flight to Bangkok on Alpha 4 Oscar Sierra Golf, a 2018-built Boeing 787-9, showcased Oman Air's Business Studio. This particular aircraft, one of two equipped with what were formerly First Class suites, primarily serves routes like London Heathrow and Bangkok. Stepping through door 1, we entered the exclusive Business Studio cabin at the front, physically separated from the rest of the aircraft. Our seat, 2A, was one of eight custom-made Collins Aerospace suites in a 1-2-1 configuration, ensuring direct aisle access for all guests. The cabin, designed by Seattle-based Teague, subtly integrates Omani architecture and cultural heritage, prioritizing sophistication over overt opulence.
The Business Studio seat is exceptionally spacious, rivaling many First Class products globally. Its ottoman, equipped with a seatbelt, allows for a guest to dine within your suite. Ample storage is available, including a sizable compartment beneath the ottoman and a narrow door revealing space for coats. A privacy door manually retreats to create a personal cocoon. Controls for the seat are conveniently located to the left, with an adjustable reading light and air nozzle to the right. A remote for the in-flight entertainment (IFE) system is hidden beneath the leather armrest, alongside a large storage compartment with a universal power port and a fast-charging USB-A port.
For the return journey from Bangkok to Muscat, we experienced Oman Air's regular Business Class on Alpha 4 Oscar Sierra Echo, a 2017-built Boeing 787-9. This aircraft features Collins Aerospace's Apex Suites in a 2-2-2 configuration. While designed to offer direct aisle access to all passengers, it achieves this through extra-long window-side seats with their own access points. This design, while excellent for window passengers who enjoy extensive legroom and three windows, leaves aisle seats, like our 15J, with considerably less space. The headrest is vertically and laterally adjustable, and a privacy divider can be raised. Storage is more limited, with space under the ottoman and a small compartment for a water bottle and headphones. A USB-A, audio, and universal power port are situated by the seat.
Both Business Studio and regular Business Class seats convert into fully flat beds, complemented by comfy pillows, blankets, mattress toppers, and linens, ensuring excellent sleep quality on redeye flights. The Business Studio bed is notably wider. The inflight entertainment system across both cabins is Thales Avan, offering a solid selection of Western, Hindu, Erdo, and local content, along with music and games, all enjoyed through provided noise-cancelling headphones. However, a significant drawback was the consistently non-functional onboard Wi-Fi across all flights, a critical feature for business travelers.
Service & Amenities
The service on Oman Air’s Business Class flights was a clear differentiator. Before departure on the outbound flight, we were offered a choice of water, champagne, or a refreshing homemade lemonade, accompanied by a cold towel on a ceramic plate. Post-pushback, the crew graciously offered Omani kafa (coffee) and pitted dates, a delightful cultural touch that elevated the pre-flight experience. The Omani coffee, in particular, stood out for its unique and delicious flavor.
A standout feature of Oman Air's Business Class is its dine-on-demand concept, a rarity that offers passengers complete flexibility in choosing their meal times. On the Muscat to Bangkok flight, we opted for the 'Ruka Omania' or Omani selection, a decision that proved to be a culinary revelation. The meal began with a basket of warm bread rolls and condiments, followed by appetizers including a traditional Omani shorba (spiced seafood soup), delicate mishkaks (grilled skewers of lamb, chicken, and prawn) with tamarind sauce, a cumin chickpea salad, and slow-smoked tuna. These appetizers were immaculately presented and flawlessly executed, offering a delicious journey through Omani cuisine. The main course, a 'saloona tubian' (Omani prawn stew with coconut milk-based sauce and spinach served with rice), was absolutely perfect. The meal concluded with a very good cheese plate, featuring Omani honeyed kami. This entire meal service was a testament to genuine thought and effort, delivering a high-quality, luxurious, and culturally insightful experience that felt authentic and truly exceptional—a perfect 10 out of 10.
The return flight from Bangkok, while still good, offered a more standard business class catering selection due to being catered at an outstation. The Arabic mezza appetizer was well-presented and delicious, featuring cheese fater, pumpkin kiba, hummus, mutabal, and baba ganoush. However, the main course, a beef tenderloin, was disappointingly overdone and tough. Dessert was a fresh, nicely presented fruit platter. Despite the main course setback, the overall catering was still above average.
Amenity kits on the outbound Business Studio flight were by Amouage, an Omani luxury brand, and included lip balm, facial moisturizer, hand and body lotion, non-alcoholic hand sanitizer, earplugs, a perfume, mouthwash, plush eye shades, and socks. Notably, toothbrushes and toothpaste were provided in the lavatories, alongside shaving kits and other toiletries. The lavatories themselves were well-maintained and even featured bidets, a rare find outside of Japanese airlines. On redeye flights, complimentary pajamas are provided, a welcome luxury. While the amenity kit on the return flight was of slightly lesser quality, it's expected that a standardized, high-quality kit will eventually be rolled out across both business class sections.
Verdict & Who It's For
Oman Air's Business Class, particularly the Business Studio, presents an overall superb product that certainly holds its own against more prominent Gulf carriers. The designs, from the cabin aesthetics to the table settings, exude elegance and sophistication, creating a gorgeous inflight environment. The absolute highlight of the experience was undoubtedly the food, with the Omani meal served out of Muscat being one of the best culinary experiences we've had on any airline. While catering from outstations like Bangkok was good, it couldn't quite match the exceptional quality and cultural depth of the Muscat-catered dishes.
Beyond the impressive dining, Oman Air provides a comprehensive suite of amenities: excellent amenity kits, comfortable bedding including mattress toppers and linens for a truly restful sleep, and a robust in-flight entertainment system. The dine-on-demand service further enhances the passenger experience, offering unparalleled flexibility. These elements combine to deliver a genuinely pleasurable time on board.
However, there are a few areas that detract from an otherwise stellar offering. The Business Studio, despite its luxurious finish, showed noticeable signs of wear and tear, including scratches and a faulty ottoman latch. More critically for the frequent business traveler, the onboard Wi-Fi was consistently unreliable across all flights, rendering it practically unusable. This is a significant drawback in an age where connectivity is paramount.
The ultimate make-or-break factor for the Business Studio is its pricing. While Oman Air internally calls it Business Studio, it's still often classified as First Class in global distribution systems, leading to potentially exorbitant prices—some distributors charging actual First Class fares for a Business Class service. Oman Air itself prices the Business Studio at a steep premium, roughly £800 more than regular Business Class on a one-way London to Muscat route. While the Business Studio seat is undeniably superior, this premium, coupled with the reduced service compared to a true First Class, makes its value proposition questionable for many. The regular Business Class, with its Apex Suites, remains a strong contender, offering direct aisle access and excellent sleep comfort, albeit with less personal space in aisle seats.
In conclusion, Oman Air's Business Class is a product worth experiencing, especially now as part of the OneWorld Alliance, expanding its utility for frequent flyers. For those prioritizing an exceptional culinary journey and a highly private, spacious seat, the Business Studio delivers, provided the price is right. However, persistent Wi-Fi issues and confusing pricing strategies need addressing for it to truly excel in the competitive premium travel market. It's a great choice for many routes, offering a distinctive and largely luxurious experience, but travelers should be mindful of the cost premium and connectivity limitations.