British Airways in Jordan: Continuing to soar after a 65-year journey of success

British Airways’ (BA) ties to Jordan date back to 1952 when the airline, then known as the British Overseas Airways Corporation, started operating a weekly flight from London to Mafraq, via Rome, Italy, aboard its Canadair Argonaut aircraft.

Fast forward 65 years and the airline now operates a daily flight between Heathrow and Amman using an Airbus A-321s.

The progress highlights the success of BA’s high-flying 65-year journey in the Jordanian market, and how the route will continue to play an important role in the airline’s network.

Aviation is one of Jordan’s most robust industries thanks to its constant development, and in Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) the country is served one of the best transport hubs in the Middle East.

Named Best Airport in the Middle East in 2014, QAIA handles flights from more than 44 airlines and British Airways is one of the most prominent airlines operating flights out of the Jordanian capital.

After launching flights to Jordan in November 1952, the British Airways service was moved to the capital, Amman, via Rome, in 1954. By 1966, BA was operating the weekly flight, aboard the Vickers VC-10 plane – with first and economy class. 

Due to political unrest in the region however, the service was suspended in 1967/68 with the skies above Jordan swarming with warplanes.

But the ties always remained strong and in April 1976, nine years after suspending flights to Jordan, British Airways resumed its service with twice-weekly flights offering first and business class. By 1986 the number of weekly flights between Amman and London had risen to four, before BA switched the UK home of the service to London Gatwick in March 1989.

One year later, in April 1990, British Airways and Royal Jordanian Airlines joined forces to launch direct flights between London Heathrow and Amman five times per week, onboard a Royal Jordanian Airbus.

The service, which increased to six flights per week as of 1 June 1990, replaced the thrice-weekly TriStar flights from Gatwick to the Jordanian capital via Cairo, which was suspended indefinitely on 22 March 1990.

By April 2006, flights between London Heathrow and Amman began operating on a daily basis, aboard an Airbus A320 equipment.

In 2015, the airline shifted its operations between Jordan and London from Terminal 1 London Heathrow to the award-winning Terminal 5 (T5). A high-tech terminal, T5 is capable of handling 30 million customers a year and offers customers from Jordan an enhanced travel experience with access to the airline’s new lounges and leading shopping outlets. Currently, there are six lounges within the terminal, which were constructed at cost of £60 million: The Concorde Room, The First Class lounge, three Club Lounges and an Arrivals Lounge.

The shift of terminals also offered improved connection timings to the airline’s worldwide route network of 199 destinations.

The bond between BA and Jordan continues to grow and as a result of the fruitful relationship, BA commenced 2017 with a daily service between London Heathrow and Amman using Airbus A321s as it continues its success story in the historic country.