Royal Jordanian ... Exciting Times

In the last couple of weeks Royal Jordanian announced the lease of seven (7) new Airbus aircraft from AWAS to replace 6 Airbus aircraft currently operating in the fleet. The replacement consists of 4 A320s and 2 A321s and an additional A320.. The first delivery is scheduled for April of next year when 3 A320s will join the fleet, while 2 A321s and 2 A320s will follow in 2012. The aim is to renew the fleet, upgrade the IFE across the fleet and reduce maintenance cost.

Further, Royal Jordanian added flights to several destinations to meet demand during the Summer season raising the daily departures to about 110.

In addition two (2) Airbus A330-200 joined the fleet on 24 May 2010 to be used on the London and Kuala Lumpur routes starting June 1, 2010.

Earlier, Royal Jordanian announced their intention to refurbish at least two (2) of their four (4) A340s by changing the interior and the IFE system starting at the end of 201 early 2011.

Royal Jordanian will be facing more competition both domestically and internationally, QAIA has attracted more than twenty plus (20+) new and/or upgraded air services over that past year through both introduction of new airlines, as well as increased frequency and/or routes by established carriers

To add to the buzz Mr. Hussein Dabbas President and CEO of Royal Jordanian, brought up again the issue of mergers and consolidation. "There is room for airlines like RJ to merge with another carrier," he said. "I think consolidation will happen, but not now and it will be like Air France KLM, British Airways and Iberia, Lufthansa-Swiss…Airlines will maintain their national identity."

The fleet renewal and expansion of the fleet coupled with the refurbishment of the A310s earlier and the A340s later this year is an indication of Royal Jordanian’s efforts to improve its services to ward off the competition and position itself for a merger.