Royal Jordanian Airlines is returning to the Indian market after an absence of a decade with two new services.
The decision to add flights from Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) to New Delhi and Mumbai comes as the carrier presses ahead with both route and fleet expansion plans despite the turmoil in the region around it.
Flights to Mumbai are scheduled to commence on April 17, while operations to New Delhi will begin on Sept. 17. Both routes will be served four times per week using Airbus A320neo aircraft.
“Through these routes, we aim to showcase the unique experiences Jordan offers while positioning Royal Jordanian as a boutique airline that promotes Jordan as a boutique destination,” CCO Karim Makhlouf says. “The new direct connection between Jordan and India will also increase the bilateral trade and economic link between both countries.”
Royal Jordanian is launching new routes as part of its “Explore Jordan” initiative, aimed at positioning Jordan as a “must-visit” destination for Indian travelers.
The Jordan-India market, which currently lacks nonstop service, saw about 88,000 two-way O&D passengers in 2023, according to Sabre Market Intelligence data. This figure is closing in on the pre-pandemic level of nearly 100,000 passengers recorded in 2019.
By introducing nonstop flights, Royal Jordanian hopes to capture a share of this indirect traffic and stimulate further growth in the market. The move aligns with the airline’s strategy to boost tourism and capitalize on the growing demand from India’s outbound travel sector.
The carrier’s planned return to India for the first time since 2014 comes as it prepares to add a new route to the U.S. Starting March 23, Royal Jordanian will operate two flights per week between AMM and Washington Dulles International Airport. The 5,949-mi. (5,170-nm) route will be served by Boeing 787-8 aircraft.
The move follows United Airlines’ decision to suspend its 3X-weekly service on the same route in August 2024.
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