Low-cost airlines resume flights to Jordan from Europe

SadaNews - Low-cost airlines have gradually started to resume their flights to Jordan from Europe, according to the Chairman of the Civil Aviation Commission, Haytham Mesto, on Sunday.

 

The Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported Mesto stating that "Wizz Air" from Hungary has begun operating two flights a week to the kingdom from the Hungarian capital, Budapest.

Additionally, "Ryanair" will resume operations to 16 destinations in Europe starting from October 28, and will begin with two destinations from September 20.

He mentioned that there are three other low-cost airlines considering operating regular flights from Europe to Jordan and vice versa.

The Chairman of the Jordanian Civil Aviation Commission noted that a permit was granted to "Ryanair" to operate regular flights for the winter season to 16 destinations in Europe.

Regarding the mechanism for granting permits to these companies, Mesto explained that companies submit requests to the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission to appoint them as foreign operators in Jordan.

He stated that requests are backed by aviation authorities from their respective countries and according to air transport agreements signed between Jordan and the countries where these companies are registered, and then the necessary operational documents are requested.

Mesto indicated that all companies are granted two regular permits annually, one for the winter season starting from October 28 to March 27, and the other for the summer season from March 28 to October 27.

He clarified that the decision to apply for year-round operations or for one season is up to the airline, affirming that low-cost flights are available to all travelers and are not limited to tourism.

The number of travelers arriving in Jordan through low-cost airlines reached 344,781 last year via "Ryanair" and "Wizz Air", while during 2023, the number of travelers through six companies reached 885,547.

This downturn comes in the context of many airlines suspending their flights to the region, following the Israeli war on Gaza since October 7, 2023. The decisions to suspend operations were also linked to the extensive military escalation by Israel in the region, which raised increasing concerns regarding the safety of civil aviation.