Trip Report: Flying Oman Air’s Business Studio

‍LONDON — Welcome to London Heathrow’s (LHR) T4. The terminal is used by most SkyTeam airlines and other carriers such as Gulf Air (GF), Air Astana (KC), and Oman Air (WY).

At the end of August, the Muscat-based airline announced a rebranding for its first-class product. The cabin, which can only be found on board two Boeing 787-9s, was initially developed as a First Class: the more spacious seat was matched by elevated onboard service.

As global demand is shifting away from first class and the costs associated with the ultra-premium offer are hard to justify, WY did the most logical thing: create a hybrid cabin, where the seat once belonged to First Class, and most of the service from business class.

Truthfully, this was already often the case on its popular Muscat-London route, where business class passengers occasionally received cabin upgrades to first class while retaining the same business class amenities and service.

The airline made this procedure more official with the Business Studio. The new product flies mainly on the Muscat-London and Muscat-Bangkok routes, where the two aircraft equipped with the old first class usually operate.

My journey started at T4, where I lined up for the dedicated Business Studio check-in. When checking in online, I pre-selected my seat 1A, and since I had no checked luggage, the procedure took only a few seconds.

I then headed to the priority security controls, which were again cleared in minutes before continuing to the iconic observation deck.

Located at the very end of the terminal, passengers can enjoy some beautiful landing views on runway 27L. I spent quality time filming arrivals before crossing T4 to the lounge. WY uses the Gulf Air Falcon Gold Lounge until it joins oneworld.

The area features many seating options, an open bar, and a buffet. I decided to save my appetite for the flight and enjoy some beautiful views on the south side of LHR. 

Before boarding was announced, I headed to the WHSmith just next to the lounge and found the August issue of Airways, which is always lovely.

Today’s flight, WY102, is operated by A4O-SF, a 6.3-year-old Boeing 787-9. I kindly asked if it was possible to board ahead of time to take clear pictures of the cabin, and the crew consented.

I boarded from door 2L, turning right through the first half of the Business Class cabin before reaching the Business Studio.

While the former is arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration, with all direct aisle access, the latter is an actual first class with a 1-2-1 layout.

The eight suites have privacy doors, a large ottoman, a minbar, ample storage, and a longer and wider seat. 

After finding the headphones and bedding kit at my seat, I received the amenity kit, menus, and pajamas identical to those distributed in business class. 

The cabin manager introduced himself and presented a choice of hot and cold towels. Boarding continued through two jet bridges.

After dimming the cabin lights, we started taxiing to runway 27R, queueing up behind some widebodies representing the bulk of Heathrow’s traffic.

We smoothly took to the skies for the next 6:45 hours, heading south and enjoying some great night views of Heathrow.

After take-off, we were offered Arabic coffee, dates, another welcome drink, and mixed nuts. I checked the menu and decided on my dinner: the classic Arabic mezze and braised lamb. 

While the menu is the same as in business class, both courses were exceptionally presented and tasty.

I paired both courses with different wines and loved the 2018 Bordeaux. I regret skipping the dessert because I needed some rest after a long day, so I quickly checked the lavatory and changed into my pajamas.

This lavatory is one of the largest I’ve ever seen. Positioned in the front of the cabin, between the two aisles, it comes with Amouage lotions and perfumes, a changing area, a bidet, and plenty of space to change into your complimentary pajama.

In the meantime, the cabin crew started turning my suite 1A into one of the largest beds in the skies.

With an extra pillow, a comfortable mattress, and an incredibly comfortable duvet, I quickly fell asleep while wearing my seat belt. This was a wise decision due to the strong turbulence that woke me up a few times as we approached the Arabian Gulf.

I woke up around 40 minutes from landing as we were approaching Dubai. I purposely missed the breakfast service, which I regret, but again, I was too tired even for more food.

After waking up, I quickly checked the IFE. This includes a good selection of international titles, games, information, and my favorite, the flight map. 

Due to the spacious legroom, the large touchscreen cannot be used from the seat, so a remote is also provided to control the interface. Above the controller, another touchscreen device sets the cabin lights, seat position, and more.

The seat has a USB-A charger and a universal power outlet in the deep storage bin. I used it to store the Amouage amenity kit, which comes in a high-end beauty case and includes creams, perfume, socks, face masks, earplugs, hand gel, and mouthwash.

Oman Air also offers an amenity kit in economy class, which is rare. Packed in a less fancy envelope, it contains the four most common items: a toothbrush, toothpaste, eye mask, and socks.

We soon approached Muscat and landed on runway 26R after beautiful views of the Omani mountains surrounding the city, with some early morning light shining on the buildings.

WY’s Turning Point

In the past months, a lot of work has been put into securing WY’s future. The airline has retired its A330 fleet, rebranded the first-class product, signed an extended code-sharing agreement with Salam Air, and most importantly, announced its entry into the oneworld Alliance, with all that comes with it. 

Oman Air is halfway through its full consolidation process, which involves a series of actions to cut costs, optimize its fleet and network, and improve its appeal to travelers and tourists. Thanks to its culture and natural beauty, Oman is arguably the most underrated destination in the region. It is no wonder that WY launched its new stopover program just a few weeks ago for passengers connecting through Muscat.

The new Business Studio goes in the right direction of cutting the astronomical costs associated with a proper First Class while improving its marketability to an improved business class experience. In my opinion, the hard product on board defines the overall experience. 

While dining, amenities and services may vary within a certain interval, the seat choice is by far the most important aspect of any international travel, regardless of class. Offering a cabin that did not have much commercial appeal as a “Business+” makes a lot of sense, especially given the costs of retrofitting the cabin on just two aircraft.

Usually, First Class cabins are the epitome of opulent luxury, sometimes creating an opulent and unpleasant atmosphere. Luckily, WY’s Business Studio product is far from that reality: thanks to the color palette, materials used, and cabin cleanliness, the environment feels comfortable and relaxing. The formal yet friendly crew service complements this well. 

As attention shifts away from ultra-high-end products, we can expect more airlines, especially in the region, to join this trend and discontinue their First Classes—WY’s biggest competitor for its first class has always been its own business class. 

Only a few carriers worldwide have installed the Apex suites, arguably the best business class seats in the world, with Finnair’s (AY) AirLounge and Qatar’s (QR) Qsuites coming close. Thanks for coming along!