RJ plans to open four new routes in Africa; Lagos first
Sep 17, 2011 - Amman
The plan, Dabbas mentioned, is for RJ to open four new destinations in Africa.
At the end of November this year, it will start by inaugurating regular flights to Lagos, the economic and financial capital of Nigeria.
The studies the airline conducted show that it is feasible to inaugurate routes to Accra, capital of Ghana, Nairobi, capital of Kenya, and Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Royal Jordanian is currently working on putting these cities on its route network in the near future.
Dabbas said that these four additions to its 59 global destinations constitute a real leap in Royal Jordanian’s volume of air transportation. The step will also support the national efforts that aim at enhancing Jordan’s position as a gateway to the Middle East and a conduit that connects this region to the whole world.
The airline’s endeavor to open these stations is in line with its expansion strategy, necessary in view of the regression of travel witnessed in the traditional markets of Europe and North America, said Dabbas.
The RJ president pointed out that connecting Amman with these African cities is bound to attract large numbers of tourists to the Kingdom, particularly Muslim pilgrims who wish to continue their flights to Mecca and Medina, in Saudi Arabia, and Christians, who come to Jordan to visit the Baptism site and other Christian holy sites. Moreover, transit travelers can use Queen Alia International Airport as a hub for their travel to the east.
The company will operate the wide-bodied, 280-seat Airbus A330s to Lagos, while the narrow-body A320s will function on the other three routes.
These aircraft — that joined the fleet in the course of this and last year — are all modern and distinguished by the comfort and state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system (with a screen fitted in each seat onboard the aircraft).
The above-mentioned African countries have high Muslim and Christian populations: Nigeria counts 155,000,000 citizens, Ethiopia 82,000,000, Kenya 41,000,000 and Ghana 25,000,000.
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