Royal Jordanian Totally Explained

Everything about Royal Jordanian totally explained

Royal Jordanian Airlines (Arabic: الملكية الأردنية; transliterated: al-Malakiyah al-Orduniyah) is an airline based in Amman, Jordan, operating scheduled international services over four continents. Its main base is Queen Alia International Airport (AMM), Amman. Royal Jordanian is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization and the Oneworld global airline alliance. The airline won the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation award for Airline Turnaround of the Year 2006 on 9 November 2006. The airline operates over 350 flights per week, with the capabilities to transport 45,000 passengers internationally per week. Royal Jordanian intends to have a fleet of around 47 aircraft by 2010, an increase from only 17 aircraft in 2005.

History

The airline was established on 9 December 1963 and started operations on 15 December 1963 after a royal decree by the late King Hussein. The airline was named Alia, or Aalya, after the King's Hussein's wife; not to be confused with the name of the airport which is named after King Hussein's third wife: Alia, or Alyaa'. The airline was founded with capital from private shareholders who were later bought out by the Jordanian government.
   Alia Jordanian Airlines started with 2 Handley Page Dart Heralds and a Douglas DC-7, and 3 international routes, to Kuwait, Beirut and Cairo. In 1964 another DC-7 arrived and services to Jeddah inaugurated. In 1965, Alia started services to Europe, with Rome added to the route system. All the progress the airline made was threatened by the Israeli air raid during the 1967 war when the DC-7s were destroyed. These planes were replaced by two Fokker F27 planes. 1968 saw expansion to Nicosia, Benghazi, Dhahran and Doha. 1969 saw further expansion into Europe and other parts of Asia, including Munich, Tehran and Istanbul.
   In 1970 Alia joined the jet age when they phased out the F-27s and ordered Boeing 707 aircraft. Frankfurt and Abu Dhabi were added to the network in 1970 and in 1971 the 707s arrived. In 1971 Madrid, Copenhagen and Karachi were added to the network. The rest of the decade saw Boeing 720s Boeing 727s and Boeing 747s added.
   A catering department was established, as well as duty free shops in Amman's airport. Services were added to several other cities, including:Bahrain, Dubai, Muscat, Rabat, Geneva, Amsterdam, Baghdad, Bangkok, Vienna, Larnaca, Damascus, New York City, Ras al-Khaimah and Houston. In 1979, Alia became a founding member of the Arab Airlines Technical Consortium (AATC).
   In the 1980s Tunis and Tripoli joined the route map, and Alia's IBM computer center was inaugurated. Lockheed L-1011s and Airbus A310s and A320s joined the fleet and in 1986, Alia changed its name to Royal Jordanian. The airline's first woman pilot flew one of their aircraft during this decade, and services were added to other cities, including Belgrade, Chicago, Bucharest, Los Angeles, Singapore, Riyadh, Kuala Lumpur (in cooperation with Malaysian Airlines), Sana'a, Moscow, Miami, Montreal, New Delhi, Calcutta and Ankara. This decade also saw the opening of the Gabriel Automated Ticket System, (GATS). The 1990s saw the expansion continue. Royal Jordanian and nine other Arabian airlines signed up with the Galileo reservations system, the IMCS maintenance and engineering system was added, a new city terminal was opened at the 7th Circle in Amman, and services to Gaza were inaugurated. The cities of Toronto, Colombo, Jakarta, Berlin, Mumbai, Milan and Tel Aviv (with 3 daily flights) were added to the network. Royal Jordanian became code sharing partners with TWA.
   In 2000, the FAA renewed the airline's maintenance and engineering department's license, and the duty free shop was among the services to be privatised. A holding company, RJI, wholly owned by the government, was incorporated as a public limited company in February 2001 to hold all the airline and associated investments. The name has been officially changed to Alia, The Royal Jordanian Airline, although to its clients it's still known simply as Royal Jordanian.
   Subsidiary Royal Wings started Royal Jordanian's first domestic service to Aqaba using a Fokker F-27 on 10 February 1996. Royal Wings now operates Bombardier Dash 8 Q300 aircraft on both scheduled and charter services to destinations in Egypt, Cyprus, Israel and the West Bank. Royal Jordanian signed an agreement in October 2005 for two Q400s previously operated by SAS Commuter, larger and faster variants of the Dash 8 series.
   On December 20 2006, Royal Jordanian announced that they'd replace two Airbus A321s with two new ones, and order two new Airbus A319s which will enter service in early 2008.
   In April 2007 Royal Jordanian became part of the Oneworld alliance. It became the first Arab airline to join a global alliance and remains only one to date. The following month, the airline announced it had ordered a total of 10 Boeing 787-8s, for service entry in 2010. This is the first order Royal Jordanian has ever placed with Boeing.(External Link

). Montreal, Canada rejoined the network on May 25 2007, after the route was cancelled in 1997. The new service is twice weekly. Also during May, Royal Jordanian was the sponsor of the World Economic Forum, which was being held at the Dead Sea, Jordan.
   On July 11 2007 Royal Jordanian celebrated thirty years of non-stop service between Amman and New York, making it the longest serving Arab airline to the USA. Royal Jordanian won the Airline Strategy Award in the technology category at the sixth annual Airline Strategy Awards on, July 16 2007. On the July 23, Royal Jordanian saw the first cargo flights between Amman and Damascus, with Royal Jordanian using a Boeing 737.
   Royal Jordanian made its first flight to the capital of Hungary, Budapest on July 28, using an Embraer 195. Flights between Amman and Budapest occur twice weekly. In October, RJ announced that it has converted two Embraer 195 jets from its original order into two Embraer 175. Royal Jordanian also opened a new lounge at Aqaba Airport.
   The airline will be the first airline in the Middle East to provide its passengers with OnAir’s inflight Internet and mobile phone services, including email, SMS and voice calls. (External Link

) Royal Jordanian also upgraded its 3 Airbus A310s at a cost of over 10 million Jordanian dinars.
   Royal Jordanian was privatised at the end of 2007, with 71% of the airline sold. The market capitalisation of the company is 260 million JOD, and shares commenced trading on 17 December 2007.
   On December 24 2007, Royal Jordanian confirmed Baku, Azerbaijan as one of its new routes in 2008, with the airline using an Embraer 195 twice weekly from Amman,
   On January 22 2008, Royal Jordanian made its first flight to Hong Kong from Amman via Bangkok with three flights weekly during winter, and five flights weekly during summer, making it the airline's first route to China. (External Link

)
The Airbus A319 entered service on 13 March 2008.(External Link

)

Statistics

The following information can be found in the 2006 Royal Jordanian Annual Report, with the following link.(External Link

)

Year	Aircraft Kilometers	Departures	Flying Hours	Passengers	Seat Factor	Employees	Profit / Loss
2002	37,767,709	17,096	55,970	1,339,779	66%	3,008	Loss 3,044,000 JD
2003	36,933,462	16,202	54,972	1,404,588	68%	3,162	Loss 9,753,000 JD
2004	44,557,377	19,148	66,004	1,736,637	71%	3,313	Profit 15,327,000 JD
2005	45,557,377	20,777	68,883	1,821,329	69%	3,557	Profit 20,516,000 JD
2006	52,274,917	25,661	77,374	2,004,559	66%	3,799	Profit 6,135,000 JD
2007	TBA	TBA	88,378	2,400,987	71%	TBA	Profit 24,111,000 JD

Aircraft Kilometers 2007: TBA
Number of departures 2007: TBA
Flying Hours 2007: 88,378 (12.45%)
Total number of passengers 2007: (16.51%)
Seat Factor 2007: 71%. (5%)
Employees 2007: TBA
Profit / Loss 2007: Profit 24,111,000 JD (74.56%)

Year	Passengers	Cargo	Excess Baggage	Airmail
2005	285,913	45,944	4,413	2,364
2006	294,237	43,326	4,891	2,851

Scheduled Passenger Flights 2006: 294,237 (2.83%)

Scheduled Cargo Flights 2006: 43,326 (5.70%)

Scheduled Excess Baggage Flights 2006: 4,891 (9.77%)

Scheduled Airmail Flights 2006: 2,851 (17.08%)

Subsidiaries

Royal Jordanian also has stakes in the following:

Royal Jordanian Cargo 100% (External Link

)

Royal Wings 100% (External Link

)

Jordan Airline Training and Simulation Limited (JATS) 20% (External Link

)

Jordan Aircraft Maintenance Limited (JorAMCo) 20% (External Link

)

Alpha (Flight catering services company) 20% (External Link

)

Royal Jordanian Air Academy 6% (External Link

) The following changes will stay until January 2009. (External Link

) Aircraft Changes/Increased Flight Frequency (Updated 15 March 2008)>

Destination	Frequency (Per week)	Equipment	Commencing
Delhi, India	From 2 weekly to 6 weekly	6- Airbus A319-132	2 April, 2008
Aqaba, Jordan	From 8 weekly to 14 weekly	10- Embraer E-195-200 AR, 4- Embraer E-175	1 September, 2008
Beirut, Lebanon	From 21 weekly to 28 weekly	20- Airbus A321-200, 2- Embraer E-175, 6- Airbus A310-300	25 May, 2008
New York City, United States of America	From 4 weekly to 5 weekly	5- Airbus A340-200	1 September, 2008
London Heathrow, United Kingdom	From 7 weekly to 8 weekly	7- Airbus A321-200, 1- Airbus A310-300	1 May, 2008
Dubai, United Arab Emirates	From 7 weekly to 12 weekly	11- Airbus A321-200, 1- Airbus A310-300	1 May, 2008
Cairo, Egypt	From 14 weekly to 16 weekly	13- Embraer E-195-200 AR, 2- Airbus A321-200, 1- Airbus A310-300	1 July, 2008

Destinations

See full article: Royal Jordanian destinations

Fleet

The Royal Jordanian fleet consists of the following aircraft as of March 2008:
Royal Jordanian Fleet>

Aircraft	Total	Passengers (Crown/Economy)	Notes
Airbus A310-300	3	201 (18/183)	Medium-long haul routes New IFE and color scheme Replacement aircraft: Boeing 787-8
Airbus A319-132	1 (3 orders)	110 (14/96) (External Link)	Short-Medium haul routes Entry into service: 2008 New Seats with AVOD
Airbus A320-200	5	136 (16/120)	Short-medium haul routes New seats with AVOD
Airbus A320-212	1	168 (168)	Charter aircraft Operated by: Royal Wings
Airbus A321-200	4 (External Link)	168 (20/148)	Short-medium haul routes New seats with AVOD
Airbus A340-200	5 (One Belonging to the King)	254 (24/230)	Long haul routes New color scheme (1/2) Replacement aircraft: Boeing 787-8
Airbus A340-600	(1 order)		Will Belong to King of Jordan, Current A340-200 he uses will move to RJ fleet
Boeing 787-8	(2 orders) (10 Leases) (4 Options)	296	Entry into service: 2010-2013 Replacing: Airbus A310 & Airbus A340 Family Middle-Eastern launch customer
Embraer E-195-200 AR	5 (12 options)	100 (12/88)	Middle Eastern, African and European routes
Embraer E-175	(2 orders)	72 (12/60)	Entry into service: May 2008 Middle Eastern, African and European routes

The Royal Jordanian average fleet age, as of November 2007, is 6.1 years.

Cargo

Royal Jordanian Cargo (Royal Jordanian Airlines Cargo) is the company's freight division operating to Africa, Europe, North America and Middle East. The airline also offers world-wide cargo charter services. Royal Jordanian Cargo flies to over 50 destinations worldwide including Baghdad, Tel Aviv, London, New York, Cairo, Saudi Arabia, Chicago, Dehli, and Bangkok. It is also leading air freight network in the Levant. Royal Jordanian Cargo Fleet>

Aircraft	Total	Capacity (Weight)	Notes
Airbus A310-300F (External Link)	2	35.5 tonnes	Medium-long haul routes New color scheme
Boeing 737 (External Link)	1	18 tons	Short Haul Routes New color scheme

Retired fleet

Fokker F-27, Boeing 707, Boeing 727, Boeing 747, Douglas DC-7, Lockheed L-1011 and Airbus A300-600 Airbus A310 (in 2010)

Sold Fleet

Airbus A340-200 (Sold in 2010)

Royal Plus

Royal Plus is Royal Jordanians frequent flyer program. Passengers are awarded points based on the type, class of flight and destination. Royal Plus members can also get points by traveling on other Oneworld airlines.

Services

Catering

Food and drinks served on flights leaving Amman are provided by Alpha Group. Hot meals will be served on a flight of at least one hour length. If the flight is shorter than one hour the cabin crew will provide snacks and drinks throughout the flight. These flights include those to Tel Aviv, Beirut and Aqaba from Amman.

In-flight entertainment

Royal Jordanians onboard entertainment system is called Sky Cinema.

In Economy Class on A320, A321, and E195 aircraft all passengers are supplied with personal televisions (PTV) in the seat in front of them. This is an audio and video on demand system (AVOD). A310 and A340 aircraft don't feature PTVs and AVOD in Economy Class, instead they feature bulkhead mounted screens, as well as LCD screens located every five rows along the cabin.

In Crown Class, passengers are provided with AVOD and 35 video channels and 25 audio channels. On A310 and A340 aircraft, touch screen personal televisions are issued to each passenger, and are not built into the seat like other carriers. There are also interactive games which are available in all classes on all flights, as well as up to date news provided by CNN on all flights.
On very short flights, from Amman to Tel Aviv, Amman to Beirut and Amman to Damascus, the AVOD system is turned on but there's only the selection of games, CNN News and the comedy channel.

Newspapers and magazines

Newspapers and magazines are available to all Crown Class passengers. Free newspapers are also provided to all Economy class passengers, but must be requested by the passenger if not collected upon boarding the aircraft. The in-flight magazine, Royal Wings Magazine, is provided to all passengers on all flights.

Seating

Crown Class seats on the A340 are old style fully flat beds. On the A310, the brand new Recaro manufactured seats are 6" long flat bed seats, with a 169 degree slope. This is the same product (apart from minor variations) as used on airlines such as Aer Lingus and Lufthansa.
Seat pitch is 83 inches on the A340, 51 inches on the A310 and 46 inches on the short and medium haul aircraft. Economy Class offers 34 inch seat pitch.

Crown Class lounges

Royal Jordanian offers its Crown Class passengers the use of lounges across the world including all Oneworld member airline lounges. Royal Jordanian operates three lounges - one in each terminal in Amman and one at Aqaba. A new lounge is currently being constructed at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, and should be opening in the middle of June 2008.

Zuwar stopover

Transiting passengers in Jordan can use the Zuwar Stopover package and spend a few days in Jordan.

Royal Vacations program

Royal Jordanians "Royal Vacations Program" sells vacations. Points from staying at Royal Jordanian partner hotels will give points towards the Royal Plus program.

Royal Jordanian charity activities

Aid to Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Pakistan - RJ staff contributed two shipments of goods to the needy in Lebanon and in Gaza, following a campaign among staff to contribute one or two days pay to help those who suffered from the military operations during the summer of 2006. The shipments included heaters, gas ovens, wheelchairs, foodstuff, blankets, school bags and baby milk. The goods were shipped to Lebanon on RJ, and to Gaza through Jordanian charity organizations. In cooperation with the United Nations, RJ ran four air cargo trips from Amman to Islamabad carrying foodstuff, medical supplies and human aid, a donation from Jordan to the victims of natural disasters that hit Pakistan in 2005. RJ also carried 27 tons of aid donated by Japanese charities to the Iraqi people, in addition to running four other trips carrying aid from Japan to Iraq.

Donating free tickets for the Society of Families and Friends of the Disabled - This donation enables disabled people to participate in the First Arab Recreation, Sport, and Cultural Camp in Egypt.

Injaz Program - For three years, RJ has been supporting and sponsoring the Injaz program for providing economic opportunities for Jordanian Youth.

Contributing to Al Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans

Supporting Ladies of Iraq Al-Ameer Cooperative Society

Al-Shajara Cultural Forum

AZM Project

Royal Jordanian awards

2007 Airline Strategy Award

King Abdullah II Award for Excellence

Best Arab airline website

Air Transport World magazine names RJ Phoenix Award winner

CAPA Airline Turnaround of the Year 2006

International Star Award for Quality

Best Airline Livery Award 2007

Codeshare agreements

In addition to its Oneworld partnerships, Royal Jordanian has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

Air India (ending in December 2009)

BMED

Malév Hungarian Airlines

Syrian Arab Airlines

Thai Airways International

UM Airlines

US Airways

Livery

Royal Jordanians's livery is a dark grey fuselage with the titles in gold both in English and Arabic. Red tips are located on the fins, winglets and engines of the aircraft as well as two strips, one gold and one red, down the fuselage. The fin contains a crown. This livery has been in service since 2006, before then the livery was similar however the engines were not painted nor were the winglets of the aircraft.

Charter services

Private charter flights using aircraft from the Royal Jordanian fleet is uncommon but can occur if the aircraft from the Royal Jordanian subsidiaries Royal Wings can't meet the requirements of the customer.

Aircraft Names

The airline designated names of Jordanian cities on its new aircraft that joined the fleet in the last two years and the ones that will join as a part of its mission of promoting Jordan to the world.

Incidents and accidents

There have been four major incidents or accidents involving Alia Jordanian flights:

On 10 April, 1965, an Alia Jordanian Handley Page Dart Herald en route from Beirut to Amman crashed near Damascus in Syria. All four crew members and 50 passengers were killed. The aircraft was written-off..

On 22 January, 1973, an Alia Jordanian Boeing 707 crashed on landing at Kano airport in Nigeria. Six crew members and 170 passengers were killed. The aircraft was written-off..

On 3 August, 1975, an Alia Jordanian Boeing 707 heading for Agadir airport in Morocco crashed into high ground. All seven crew members and 181 passengers were killed. The aircraft was written-off..

On 13 March, 1979, an Alia Jordanian Boeing 727 crashed on landaing at Doha airport in Qatar. Three crew members and 42 passengers were killed. The aircraft was written-off.. Since the name change to Royal Jordanian Airlines, the only fatal incident was when a hijacker seeking political asylum was killed on 5 July, 2000, on board a Royal Jordanian Airbus A320 flying from Queen Alia International Airport to Damascus.

Further Information

Get more info on 'Royal Jordanian'.

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