Queen Alia International Airport مطار الملكة علياء الدولي Maṭār al-Malika ʿAlyāʾ ad-Dawaliyy | |||||||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
Owner | Government of Jordan | ||||||||||||||
Operator | AIG Group | ||||||||||||||
Serves | Amman | ||||||||||||||
Location | Zizya, Jordan | ||||||||||||||
Hub for | |||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 730 m / 2,395 ft | ||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 31°43′21″N 35°59′36″E / 31.72250°N 35.99333°E | ||||||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||
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Statistics (2022) | |||||||||||||||
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Queen Alia International Airport (IATA: AMM, ICAO: OJAI) (Arabic: مطار الملكة علياء الدولي, romanized: Maṭār al-Malika ʿAlyāʾ ad-Dawaliyy) is an international airport located in Zizya, 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Amman, the capital city of Jordan, as well as the largest city in the nation. It is the largest airport in the country, named after Queen Alia, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977. The airport is home to the country's national flag carrier, Royal Jordanian Airlines, and serves as a significant hub for Jordan Aviation.
A new terminal was opened in March 2013 to replace the airport's older two passenger terminals and one cargo terminal.[1] The three original terminals were made obsolete once the new terminal officially began operations.
History
Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) was built in 1983[2] in response to the growing airport traffic needs that Amman Civil Airport could not accommodate. At the time, passenger traffic was increasing at a rate above the international average, recording 25–30% growth per annum and placing considerable pressure on airport facilities despite continuous expansion and development. In 1981, the number of arriving, departing, and transit passengers exceeded 2.3 million, while cargo traffic reached 62,000 tonnes and aircraft traffic topped 27,000 movements.[3]
The Jordanian Ministry of Transport undertook the building of a new international airport with sufficient capacity to cope with demand in the foreseeable future. QAIA was built at an estimated total cost of JOD 84 million (~120 million USD as of January 2023) . Passenger facilities were designed to serve 3.5 million passengers per year.[3]
QAIA has since grown to become the kingdom's primary international gateway and a stop-over for international airlines in the Middle East. By 2012, QAIA was serving on average more than 6 million passengers and 40 airlines from around the world.[3]
In 2007, the Government of Jordan selected Airport International Group (AIG) through an open tender to operate, rehabilitate and manage QAIA under a 25-year concession agreement. In response to the continual surge in passenger traffic at the time, AIG was also placed in charge of constructing a new terminal, one which not only would expand the airport's then insufficient annual capacity of 3.5 million passengers, but that would also introduce a "unique travel experience" to help advance QAIA's position as a niche transit hub in the region.[4][5][6]
Accordingly, AIG invested an estimated $750 million USD in the construction of the new terminal.[7]
The new terminal also accommodates rising annual passenger traffic, taking the original airport capacity from 3.5 million passengers per year to 7.5 million.[8]
Inaugurated by King Abdullah II[6] on 14 March 2013, the new airport was launched officially following an overnight operational transfer which coincided the airport's 30th anniversary. The last flight departed from the old terminal at 10:05 pm on 20 March 2013, upon which all operations were shifted to the new terminal, where its first flight departed at 2:30 am on 21 March 2013.[9]
On 20 January 2014, AIG launched the second phase of QAIA's expansion, valued at a total cost of over $100 million USD.
In 2016, the second expansion phase, costing $1 billion,[10] was completed raising QAIA's annual passenger traffic capacity to 12 million, supporting Jordan's national tourism strategy to serve as a regional transit hub for leisure and business travel. The aim is to boost its capacity to 16 million passengers annually by the end of the concession time frame in 2032.[11] Following the airport expansion, Emirates operated a one-off Airbus A380 service to Amman, celebrating 30 years of Emirates' operation to Jordan. The superjumbo (registration A6-EUC) operated EK901/EK902 on 25 September 2016, and it was the first-ever A380 service to the Levant.[12] Since then, Emirates has continued daily A380 service to Amman through EK903/EK904.[13]
On 14 March 2020, it was announced by the Jordanian Ministry of Health that "...all flights to and from the Kingdom will be suspended from Tuesday, 17 March 2020, until further notice, excluding commercial freight traffic."[14] The airport had been closed to passenger traffic since 17 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, several Royal Jordanian flights were commissioned to return Jordanian citizens, especially students, back to Jordan during the pandemic if they desired.[14]
On 8 September 2020, the airport was reopened for commercial flights but was subject to strict health and safety regulations.[15] On 1 March 2022, all travel restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic were subsequently lifted.[16]
Terminal
QAIA's new design was created by architects Foster + Partners.[17][18] The roof was inspired by Bedouin tents and is composed of 127 concrete domes, each weighing up to 600 metric tonnes.[19]
The airport has three lounges, one operated by Royal Jordanian for business and first-class passengers, one operated by Airport Hotel next to the North Concourse, and the last exclusively run by telecom operator Zain Jordan for its VIP customers. Retail space was expanded by 25% at the new terminal, covering more than 6,000 square metres (65,000 sq ft). The terminal houses several international food and beverage venues. In addition to restaurants and supermarkets, the terminal also includes a nuts roastery, a large Duty-Free area, a children's play area, shopping outlets, and internet connectivity.
Airport management
Airport International Group (AIG) is a French company formed to rehabilitate, expand, and operate Queen Alia International Airport under a 25-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession agreement.[4] The concession was awarded to AIG in 2007 by the Government of Jordan after an open international tender that was overseen by the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank acting as an advisor to the Government. AIG's shareholders are French, Persian Gulf, and Palestinian partners. As of 2018, 51% of the shares are owned by Aéroports de Paris (ADP). The other shareholders are Meridiam Eastern Europe Investments (32%), Mena Airport Holding Ltd. (funded by the IDB; 12.75%), and the EDGO Group (owned by the al-Masri family; 4.75%).[20]
Through the BOT public-private partnership framework, the Government retains ownership of the airport and receives 54.47% of the airport's gross revenues for the first six years and 54.64% of the gross revenues for the remaining 19 years of the agreement's 25-year term.[21]
As part of its public-private partnership with the Government of Jordan, AIG closely collaborates with the Government on a day-to-day basis on all issues related to the airport. A dedicated project management unit within the Jordanian Ministry of Transport oversees the project for the Government. The Ministry of Transport receives complete annual financial statements and quarterly financial and operational reports.
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Amman-Queen Alia Airport:
Cargo
Statistics
Year | Total passengers | Growth |
---|---|---|
2002 | 2,334,779 | |
2003 | 2,358,475 | 1% |
2004 | 2,988,174 | 21% |
2005 | 3,301,510 | 9% |
2006 | 3,506,070 | 6% |
2007 | 3,861,126[79] | 9% |
2008 | 4,477,811[79] | 14% |
2009 | 4,770,769[80] | 6% |
2010 | 5,422,301[81] | 12% |
2011 | 5,467,726[82] | 1% |
2012 | 6,250,048[83] | 13% |
2013 | 6,502,000[84] | 4% |
2014 | 7,089,008[85] | 9% |
2015 | 7,095,685[86] | 0% |
2016 | 7,410,274[87] | 4.4% |
2017 | 7,914,704[88] | 6.8% |
2018 | 8,425,026[89] | 6.5% |
2019 | 8,924,080[90] | 5.9% |
Year | Total Cargo (in tons) | Growth |
---|---|---|
2016[91] | 101,206 | |
2017[91] | 110,416 | 9.1% |
2018[92] | 104,216 | -6.7% |
2019[92] | 102,549 | -1.6% |
Year | Total Aircraft movements |
---|---|
2007 | 44,672 |
2008 | 51,314 |
2009 | 57,726 |
2010 | 62,863 |
2011 | 63,426 |
2012[93] | 67,190 |
2014[85] | 73,125 |
2015 | 73,584 |
2016 | 73,784 |
2017[88] | 74,044 |
2018[92] | 76,894 |
2019[92] | 79,740 |
Awards
In 2023, QAIA became the first airport in the Middle East to achieve Level 3 of the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation (ACEA).[94]
According to a statement from Airport International Group (AIG), QAIA also became one of eight airports in the Middle East and one of sixty one airports all around the world to have received ACEA.[95]
The global Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Survey for Q1 2014 ranked QAIA first place in 18 different service and facility categories from ten airports across the Middle East. QAIA came in at 13th place from amongst 81 airports worldwide within the group of airports serving 5-15 million passengers and recorded an Overall Satisfaction Score of 4.42 out of a possible 5.0, an improvement compared to its 4.23 score in Q4 2013. Regarding luggage delivery speed, QAIA earned a 4.13 score, up from 3.99 during the previous quarter.
QAIA received two 2013 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards[96] in February 2014, ranking at first place in the category of "Best Improvement by Region: Middle East" and 5th in the category of "Best Airport by Region: Middle East." The ASQ Awards results were based on the ASQ Survey, an international airport passenger satisfaction benchmark program.[97] In the 2014 version of the awards, QAIA again received the "Best Improvement In the Middle East region" award.
In March 2013, QAIA was named one of the world's top 40 Public–private partnership PPP projects, receiving Gold recognition as "Best Emerging Market Infrastructure Project for Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa" in Emerging Partnerships.[98] The winning PPPs, selected from among projects nominated by governments, industry, NGOs, academia and other organizations following a global call for submissions, demonstrated best practices for governments working with the private sector to provide a wide range of public services and to spur economic development in their countries.[98]
In June 2013, QAIA became the second airport in the Middle East to achieve the "Mapping" level of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program run by Airports Council International Europe. The 'Mapping' level recognizes the airport's commitment to determining its carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emission sources at its operational boundary, as well as to engaging a third party to verify the airport's annual carbon footprint.[99]
Ground transport
The airport is connected to Amman by Sariyah shuttle buses that ply back and forth between Amman and the airport every 30 minutes.
An airport taxi service is also available around the clock. Car rental is also available at the airport.
QAIA's parking facilities are divided into three areas:
- Departure curbside area: Reserved for passenger drop-offs and pick-ups; drivers entering the departure curbside must purchase a ticket to enter. Drivers receive a 10-minute free-of-charge grace period.
- Short-term parking lot: Cars parked in this area are subject to an hourly parking fee.
- Long-term parking lot: Designed for passengers who wish to leave their vehicles at the airport while traveling, the long-term lot charges drivers daily parking fees.
A shuttle bus is available to transport passengers between the terminal and car park.
See also
References
- ↑ Ghazal, Mohammad (14 March 2013). "King Abdullah Opens New Queen Alia Airport Terminal". The Jordan Times. Amman, Jordan: Jordan Press Foundation. Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ "Arab Passengers' Airlines Framework and Performance" (PDF). Economic Research Forum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- 1 2 3 Tribute to King Abdullah II of Jordan – Celebrating 15 Years of Leadership, "Celebrating 30 Years of Queen Alia International Airport".
- 1 2 "QAIA Project". Airport International Group. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ "Queen Alia International Airport Takes Jordan's Aviation Industry to New Horizons" (Press release). Amman, Jordan: Airport International Group. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- 1 2 Maslen, Richard (27 March 2013). "New Terminal Opening Boosts Queen Alia Airport's Capacity". Routesonline. Manchester, United Kingdom: UBM Information Ltd. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ "AIG Makes Substantial Headway in the Renovations of QAIA's Warehouses" (Press release). Amman, Jordan: Airport International Group. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ "King Abdullah opens new Queen Alia airport terminal". The Jordan Times. Archived from the original on 11 May 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- ↑ "New QAIA Terminal Officially Launches Full Operations" (Press release). Amman, Jordan: Airport International Group. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ "Upgraded airport greets 8m passengers". The Business Report. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
- ↑ "New phase of airport expansion completed, inaugurated". 6 September 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ↑ "Queen Alia International Commences Second Phase of US$100m Expansion Project". Passenger Terminal Today.Com. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ↑ "Emirates' A380 service to Amman". 22 October 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
- 1 2 "The government announces new measures to deal with the Coronavirus".
- ↑ "Flights from Queen Alia International Airport to resume as of September 8". Ammon News. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
- ↑ "Jordan to lift COVID-19 restrictions on international visitors". Alarabiya News. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ↑ "Queen Alia International Airport / Foster + Partners". 25 March 2013.
- ↑ "Official Opening of Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan" (Press release). Amman, Jordan: Foster + Partners. 21 March 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ Dalgamouni, Rand (9 March 2013). "New QAIA Terminal Gears Up for Opening Day". The Jordan Times. Amman, Jordan: Jordan Press Foundation. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ "About | AIG - Queen Alia International Airport | Routes". www.routesonline.com. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
- ↑ "Queen Alia International Airport Project, Jordan" (PDF). Norton Rose Fulbright. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ "Air Algérie NS23 Africa / Mid-East Network Additions".
- ↑ "Air Cairo Adds Giza Sphinx – Amman Service from Feb 2023".
- ↑ "Air Cairo to commence Hurghada-Amman service". aaco.org. 20 July 2023.
- ↑ "AIR CAIRO NS23 EMBRAER E190 NETWORK – 12MAR23". aeroroutes.com. 13 March 2023.
- ↑ "Egypt's Alexandria Airlines to restart scheduled operations". ch-aviation.com. 15 April 2022.
- ↑ "Fly with Most Affordable and Cheap Ticket Opportunities | AnadoluJet".
- ↑ "Tyrolean Airways to merge with Austrian Airlines". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ ":: Badr Airlines ::".
- ↑ "Flug Zürich (ZRH) – Akaba (AQJ), Jordanien | Edelweiss".
- ↑ "Ethiopian Airlines Launches Boeing 737-800 Flights To Amman". Routesonline. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
- ↑ jordanaviation.jo - Book now retrieved 20 March 2022
- ↑ "Pegasus Adds Ankara – Amman Service from late-March 2016". airlineroute. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ↑ "Pegasus expands Middle East network in S18". Routesonline. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ↑ "Pegasus Airlines expands Middle East network in 2Q19".
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- 1 2 "Royal Jordanian NS24 North Africa network addition". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ "Royal Jordanian Plans Brussels Service Resumption in NW23".
- ↑ "Royal Jordanian gaat weer op Brussel vliegen". 24 March 2023.
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ "Royal Jordanian Adds Dusseldorf Service in late-Sep 2023".
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/royal-jordanian-confirms-manchester-and-stansted-routes
- 1 2 "Royal Jordanian Moves Milan/Lyon Addition to Oct 2022".
- ↑ https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/royal-jordanian-confirms-manchester-and-stansted-routes
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ "Royal Jordanian Adds Stockholm Regular Service in NS23".
- ↑ "Royal Jordanian Adds Tabuk Flight from mid-July 2015". Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ↑ "Tel Aviv - Jerusalem Travel Restrictions Policy". Royal Jordanian Airlines. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ↑ "Royal Jordanian Adds Toronto, Modifies Detroit". 7 March 2022.
- ↑ Liu, Jim. "Royal Jordanian adds Antalya service from May 2020". Routesonline. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
- ↑ https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231227-rjfy24e2
- ↑ "Poznań: Od jesieni polecimy do Jordanii i Belgii!". Tenpoznan.pl. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Ryanair".
- ↑ "Nieuwe Transavia-bestemming in Midden-Oosten". 16 April 2019.
- ↑ "Transavia komend winterseizoen naar Amman". 16 April 2019.
- ↑ "Transavia ouvre un Lyon – Amman". 29 October 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ "Transavia ouvre un Paris - Jordanie". 10 December 2019. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ "Turkish Airlines adds seasonal Antalya – Amman route in S17". routesonline. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ↑ "Turkish Airlines adds Dalaman – Amman service from June 2019". routesonline. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ↑ "United Airlines New Routes | Official Website". Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ↑ "New Routes | Vueling - Vueling".
- ↑ "Vueling Adds Paris – Amman Service From late-Oct 2023". AeroRoutes.
- ↑ minute (9 February 2022). "Abu Dhabi's Wizz Air adds two new flight routes to Aqaba, Amman in Jordan". Al Arabiya English. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Wizz Air To Enter Jordanian Market". routesonline.com. 4 October 2021.
- ↑ "Amman added by Wizz Air from Luton airport".
- ↑ cargolux.com - Network & Offices retrieved 13 January 2021
- ↑ "Lufthansa Cargo 4Q23 A321 Freighter Short-Haul Additions". AeroRoutes. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ↑ rj-cargo.com - Destinations retrieved 13 January 2021
- ↑ saudiacargo.com - Network retrieved 13 January 2021
- ↑ turkishcargo.com - Flight Schedule retrieved 13 January 2021
- 1 2 "Business Real Estate News | Technology | Travel Guide". www.ameinfo.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ TradingMarkets.com
- ↑ "Jordan Times". www.jordantimes.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ↑ "QAIA Annual Traffic Statistics" (PDF). www.aig.aero. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2013.
- ↑ "August Brings New Records to QAIA with 23.76% Increase in Passengers | Airport International Group". Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ "Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA)". Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- 1 2 "خبرني : أسواق : مطار الملكة علياء يستقبل 7 ملايين مسافر بـ 2014". Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "QAIA Welcomes More than Seven Million Passengers in 2015". Routesonline. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ "مطار الملكة علياء الدولي يسجل أعلى حركة مسافرين في تاريخه". Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- 1 2 "Queen Alia International Airport Welcomes Over 7.9 Million Passengers in 2017". Airline International Group. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
- ↑ "Over 8.4 Million Passengers Travel through Queen Alia International Airport in 2018". Airline International Group. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ "Trafic de l'année 2019". Groupe ADP - Service presse (in French). 14 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- 1 2 "Queen Alia International Airport welcomes over 7.9 million passengers in 2017". Embassy of Jordan. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 "QAIA recorded 5.9% rise in 2019 passenger traffic — AIG". Jordan Times. 3 February 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
- ↑ Airport International Group (AIG). Accessed 9 May 2013.
- ↑ "QAIA 1st airport in region to achieve Level 3 of Airport Customer Experience Accreditation". Jordan Times. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ↑ "QAIA 1st airport in region to achieve Level 3 of Airport Customer Experience Accreditation". Jordan Times. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
- ↑ "About the ASQ Awards". Airports Council International. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
- ↑ "1st place for QAIA: Jordan Secures Service Quality Awards for Excellence in Customer Service" (Press release). Amman, Jordan: Airport International Group. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- 1 2 "QAIA Receives 'Gold' Recognition as Best Emerging Market Infrastructure Project" (Press release). Amman, Jordan: Airport International Group. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
- ↑ "QAIA Receives Airport Carbon Accreditation" (Press release). Amman, Jordan: Zawya. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
External links
Media related to Queen Alia International Airport at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Airport information for OJAI at Great Circle Mapper. Source: DAFIF (effective October 2006).
- Current weather for OJAI at NOAA/NWS
- Accident history for AMM at Aviation Safety Network