Oman’s national carrier is hoping to double its route network by 2012, increasing its number of destinations to almost 50. It will focus on routes to the Far East and Europe.

Oman Air launched its first Asian route, to Bangkok, in November 2007 and has already ramped up frequency to the Thai capital to five flights a week.

However, the airline currently only has 15 aircraft and will need to acquire several more to achieve its growth goals. The company has struggled to find aircraft since being made the Sultanate’s national carrier last summer, when Oman pulled out of Gulf Air.

The carrier currently uses Airbus 737-800 planes on its long-haul routes but has announced it is in the market for a new fleet of wide-body aircraft. However, with expansion in Middle East aviation at its current high rates, order books at Airbus and Boeing are full and the leasing market is over-subscribed.