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RJ resumes flights to Syria's Aleppo — statement

RJ resumes flights to Syria's Aleppo — statement

Jordan Times06-05-2025
By JT - May 06,2025 - Last updated at May 06,2025
AMMAN — Royal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) announced on Tuesday the resumption of its flights from Amman to Aleppo, with three weekly services.
With this move, RJ becomes one of the first airlines to reinstate direct services to Aleppo, linking the city to RJ's extensive network of over 45 destinations across Europe, the United States, the Middle East, and the Gulf region, the national carrier said in a statement.
The first flight landed today [on Tuesday] at Aleppo International Airport, accompanied by RJ CEO Samer Majali and a delegation of officials, marking the official return of direct air travel between Amman and Aleppo after years of suspension.
Majali noted that adding Aleppo and Damascus to RJ's route network would strengthen the airline's regional presence.
He emphasised that the move would contribute to Syria's reconstruction, promote economic and trade ties between the two countries, and serve various categories of travellers by providing air connectivity between Syria and the rest of the world, especially following the resumption of daily flights to Damascus earlier in 2025, the statement said.
Royal Jordanian will operate flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
By expanding its network with new destinations, RJ aims to strengthen its operational hub in Amman and position it as a key regional gateway, it said.
This expansion aligns with the airline's fleet modernisation strategy, which includes the recent addition of five new Embraer jets for short-haul routes. The airline also plans to introduce more Embraer aircraft over the next two years and begin integrating Airbus A320neo aircraft for medium-haul destinations, which will feature onboard Wi-Fi.
New Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will also be added to the fleet.
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