PREMIUM
The Jordanian capital of Amman is seeing growing demand from former Yugoslav markets, as well as elsewhere in Europe. The Middle Eastern country’s potential to draw in a large number of tourists was recognised by Ryanair in 2019, which maintained operations from twelve European countries to Amman and Aqaba prior to the pandemic. The Jordanian government noted that these low cost flights had led to an increase in tourists, particularly from Eastern European markets. Coronavirus and the collapse in air travel demand in 2020 has hit Jordan hard, however, the country has reopened for tourists, requesting only a negative PCR test to be undertaken upon arrival at its airports.
Two-way indirect traffic between EX-YU capital cities and Amman in 2019
Sarajevo sees the most indirect passengers to and from Amman in the former Yugoslavia and generates more inbound than outbound traffic, with Jordanians looking to holiday in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the summer months. Prior to the pandemic, Royal Jordanian Airlines said it was considering flights to Sarajevo. "We are conducting a feasibility study for Sarajevo. The new route could cater for tourism, facilitate travel for businessmen, and enhance trade", Royal Jordanian said. It added, “This is part of a continuous assessment of our route network, in order to enhance traffic to Jordan and improve connectivity via our Amman base”. The airline was also part of a Jordanian consortium to bid for a 49% stake in Bosnia and Herzegovina's former flag carrier B&H Airlines in 2008. Its bid was ranked second, behind Turkish Airlines.
Air Serbia was the first airline in the former Yugoslavia with plans to introduce services to the Jordanian capital. Flights were to commence in June 2020 and operate four times per week. Its split schedule indicated the Serbian carrier was relying on a notable number of transfer passengers on the route, but also on point-to-point demand. The carrier noted it was also looking to benefit from growing interest in the region for city breaks in Amman and tour groups heading to the Jordanian coast. In 2019, Turkish Airlines transferred the most passengers between Belgrade and Amman, but it was closely followed by TAROM and Aegean Airlines.
Top transfer airlines on Belgrade - Amman - Belgrade route in 2019
Royal Wings, a subsidiary of Jordan’s national carrier, has, in the past, operated flights to Belgrade and the Croatian coast, while charters have also been organised from Ljubljana over the years. Turkish Airlines continues to benefit the most from the lack of direct connectivity from the region to the Middle Eastern country. Overall, passenger numbers from all six capital city airports in the former Yugoslavia have more than doubled between 2009 and 2019.