Latest news with #JordanAirspace
Times
01-07-2025
- Times
Is it safe to travel to Jordan right now? Latest travel advice
Fighting between Israel and Iran has been going on since June 13 and is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Although Jordan is not directly involved in the conflict, it has been affected. The country had to intercept armed drones launched by Iran due to fears that they could land in Jordan, and it has closed its airspace twice due to the threat of missiles. Given Israeli airspace is still closed, the land border with Jordan has become the main point of exit for visitors leaving Israel, but the crossings are only open for a limited number of hours during the day. The situation is ongoing and could change at any moment — here's what you need to know right now. • Is it safe to travel to the Middle East right now? On June 22, the UK Foreign Office update its advice following the US military strikes against Iran. It stated that ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran have the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning and flagged that the current situation has disrupted air links and may disrupt road links and border crossings. In addition, demonstrations and protest activity may take advises against all travel to anywhere within 3km of Jordan's border with Syria — this advice was in place before war broke out between Israel and Hamas. It considers the rest of the country to be generally safe for travel. However, for those planning a trip to Jordan, or who are due to travel imminently, there are a few things to bear in mind. Jordan temporarily closed its airspace twice amid the exchanges of fire between Israel and Iran. Although Jordanian airspace has since reopened, the Foreign Office says that 'airports and airspace may close at short notice'. It advises those in Jordan to contact their airline and to follow the advice of the local authorities. For those yet to travel to Jordan, the Foreign Office advises checking with the airline first. It's also worth speaking to your travel insurance provider to clarify what may or may not be covered in the event of an emergency. There is a risk of fragments and debris from missiles landing in Jordan. The Foreign Office advises: 'If you encounter any projectile debris or fragments you should move away from them immediately and contact local authorities.' Meanwhile, Jordan's land borders with Israel have become one of the main points of exit for visitors leaving Israel. These are still in operation, and are open for a limited number of hours each day, but the Foreign Office warns that these could close at any time. The Foreign Office says the three crossing points in Jordan are operating during the following hours: • King Hussein/Allenby Bridge: 8am to 2.30pm• The Northern (Sheikh Hussein/Bet Shean) crossing: 8.30am to 2.30pm• The Southern (Wadi Araba) crossing: 8am to 8pm On June 16, it was reported that the Foreign Office will dispatch rapid response teams to assist travellers making their way from Israel to the border with Jordan. If you're still in Israel, you should register your details with the Foreign Office and the Israeli tourist board, which is coordinating departures. See the travel advice for Israel for further details. Jordan has not been directly affected by the war between Israel and Hamas in the sense that it is not involved in any fighting. However, it has been among the Arab nations trying to broker peace between the two, and there have been protests within the country. Jordan's geographical proximity to Israel has also affected travel to the country. Jordanian airspace was closed for the duration of Iran's October 1 missile attack in 2024, for example. On April 13, 2024, Jordan's air force also intercepted and shot down dozens of Iranian drones that violated its airspace and were heading to Israel. And of course, its airspace was forced to close twice during the latest exchanges between Israel and Iran. On the situation in Jordan, the Foreign Office said: 'Following recent developments in Israel, Lebanon, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the security situation could change suddenly. 'In addition, there are reports of closures of the King Hussein/Allenby bridge crossing between Jordan and the West Bank. You should be aware of the risk of closures of the borders between Jordan and Israel and the West Bank, as well as possible road closures within Jordan, with no notice.' • Is it safe to travel to Israel right now? Latest travel advice• Is it safe to travel to Egypt right now? Latest travel advice• Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now? Latest travel advice• Is it safe to travel to Dubai right now? Latest travel advice• Is it safe to travel to Morocco right now? Latest travel advice The UK Foreign Office is not advising against travel to Jordan, aside from its advice on avoiding the border with Syria. In general, although most tourists have visited the country without incident, it is worth remaining vigilant. Levels of crime are generally low in Jordan, with most incidents involving pickpocketing, bag snatching or theft from cars. You should keep your valuables secure and have your photo ID with you in case of checks. According to the Foreign Office, disputes between tribes, families and other social groups can start without warning and turn violent or involve the use of firearms. It also states terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Jordan — these could take place in tourist areas such as hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and tourist sites. The last high-profile incident was a knife attack at the Roman site in Jerash that left eight people injured in November 2019. British citizens will need a visa to enter Jordan for tourism which can be obtained on arrival. Your passport will need to have a minimum of six months' validity on the day you arrive. A tourist visa costs 40 Jordanian dinars (about £42) and is valid for one month. The visa can be extended for up to six months once you're in Jordan. However, if you stay in the country for more than 30 days, you'll need to take an HIV test and obtain a health certificate, which costs 20 dinars (about £21). If you're leaving the country via one of the road borders, you'll also need to pay an exit tax of ten dinars (about £10); those leaving the country on a flight are exempt. • Best things to do in Jordan• Best time to visit Jordan Jordan is generally safe for female travellers but they can receive unwanted attention in the form of both verbal and physical harassment in more remote areas of the country. The Foreign Office says that occasionally these situations have escalated and there has been an increase in reports of sexual assault. Female travellers should therefore take care when walking or travelling alone, during the day as well as at night. They should also avoid sitting in the front seat of a taxi. The Foreign Office says that Jordanian law does not 'explicitly prohibit homosexual acts'. However, public displays of affection between same-sex couples are not generally tolerated and could lead to arrest under other Jordanian laws. Jordan is a predominantly Muslim country but alcohol is permitted. However, it's illegal to consume alcohol on the street — it's only allowed in bars, clubs, hotels and private homes. You should also be aware that during Ramadan, while restaurants in cities such as Amman remain open during the day, eating in the street is likely to cause problems.
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Jordanian airspace remains safe amid regional tensions — CARC
AMMAN — Despite rising regional tensions, Jordan's airspace remains safe and operational for civil aviation, thanks to continuous risk assessments and coordinated response strategies, according to the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC). Speaking at a media briefing organised by the Ministry of Government Communication, CARC Chairman Captain Haitham Misto affirmed that 'there is no compromise on the security and safety of Jordanian airspace'. Misto explained that Jordan manages its airspace using a comprehensive risk assessment strategy grounded in civil-military coordination, real-time regional collaboration, and strict adherence to national and international aviation safety standards. He also noted that decisions to close the airspace have been temporary, tactical, and based on identified short-term threats. Misto said that Jordan is currently connected to 85 international airports, with 48 airlines operating flights to and from the Kingdom, adding that passenger traffic through Queen Alia International Airport in 2024 has reached around 8.9 million. Misto also discussed aviation statistics during the ongoing crisis, highlighting changes in passenger numbers, overflights, flight frequency, and cargo volume. The number of passengers dropped from 27,397 per day before the crisis to 18,622, while daily overflights decreased from 285 to 192 aircraft, Misto said, noting that the number of daily flights fell from 237 to 141, and the volume of air cargo declined from 124 tonnes to 74 tonnes per day. He highlighted that the 'professionalism and expertise' involved in managing the airspace, backed by internal and external coordination with relevant authorities, have ensured its ongoing operational status and reaffirmed Jordan's position as a secure destination for aviation. Misto noted that risk level assessments are conducted with high precision, facilitated by civil-military coordination and regional collaboration with international regulatory counterparts, in line with global aviation requirements to exchange information critical to the uninterrupted flow of regional air traffic. He noted that the Jordanian airspace is managed using a methodology grounded in continuous threat evaluation and adherence to international and national aviation safety standards across all flight operations, including takeoff, landing, and aircraft movement. Decisions to close Jordanian airspace, he added, have been temporary and tactical, made only in response to identified short-term risks. Misto added that once a threat is clearly assessed, CARC deploys the necessary tools and mechanisms to mitigate it, which may include partial or full airspace closure depending on the severity. Identifying threats is integral to this mitigation strategy, Misto said, noting that CARC operates a 24/7 risk monitoring system to gather intelligence on activities that could elevate threat levels, with the goal of maintaining safe and continuous air traffic. He stressed that CARC's assessment strategy prioritises two key areas: air traffic to and from Jordan, and overflight operations, noting that the commission's proactive approach involves pre-emptive risk mitigation procedures such as civil-military coordination, regional cooperation, and aircraft fuel load adjustments to account for potential rerouting. Should risk levels escalate, CARC implements additional safety measures, including halting aircraft departures from Jordanian airports, rerouting flights through safer corridors, diverting inbound aircraft to nearby alternate airports, and enforcing partial or full closure of airspace, as necessary. In response to journalists' inquiries, Misto said that financial losses resulting from the crisis have not yet been assessed, noting that several Arab carriers resumed flights to Jordan as of Monday, reflecting growing confidence in the safety of Jordanian airspace. He pointed out that two low-cost airlines have decided to suspend operations to and from Jordan and the region until September, as part of broader precautionary measures. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
