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JORDAN: Royal Jordanian to Add First A330F in October 2026

AMMAN, Jordan

  • Royal Jordanian is expanding its cargo operation with dedicated freighter aircraft targeting trade flows between Jordan, the Middle East, Asia and North America, Chief Commercial Officer Karim Makhlouf told AGBI.
  • The airline will introduce an Airbus A330 freighter in October and plans to operate three such widebodies plus two A321 freighters.
  • The A330 freighter offers about 65 tonnes cargo capacity.
  • Cargo revenues have roughly doubled due to geopolitical disruption shifting goods to air freight.
  • Royal Jordanian grounded a third of capacity in March and April yet maintained load factor above 80 percent.
  • The airline seeks to develop Amman as a regional logistics hub for Jordan, Iraq and Syria.
  • Royal Jordanian is investing USD 50 million in a new cargo warehouse and plans freighter services to China and the US.
  • Africa routes are under consideration.
  • The airline will link operations with Aqaba seaport and add road feeder services for imports, exports and transit cargo.
  • The freighter operation targets transit cargo between Europe, the Gulf and the Levant. Aside from bellyhold capacity onboard its passenger fleet, Royal Jordanian has a single maindeck freighter in service - A321-200(P2F) (MSN 3926 ¦ JY-RAZ) - which currently connects Amman with Cairo, Karachi, Dubai, Baghdad, Maastricht, and Istanbul among other destinations.
  • Makhlouf stated post-war reconstruction in Syria and Iraq will generate cargo demand.
  • Royal Jordanian targets 5.2 million passengers this year, up from around 3 million five years ago.
  • The airline lost about a quarter of traffic at the peak of the Iran war but maintained operations.
  • Royal Jordanian operates 36 aircraft.
  • The carrier grounded 35 percent of capacity in March and April and has kept load factor above 80 percent since.
  • Royal Jordanian will start Beijing flights in early 2027 and plans more India operations. Other potential destinations include Milan, Rome, Venice, Belgrade, Thessaloniki, Malaga, and Lisbon.
  • According to its latest financials, Royal Jordanian's scheduled cargo revenue in the six months to 30 June 2026 was JOD 36.0 million (USD 50.8 million), up 96% from JOD 18.3 million (USD 25.9 million) in H1 2025.
  • Airmail added JOD 4.7 million (USD 6.6 million), up 67% from JOD 2.8 million (USD 3.9 million). Flying cargo plus mail totalled JOD 40.7 million (USD 57.4 million).
  • That is 8.8% of group revenue of JOD 461.7 million (USD 651 million) and 9.6% of scheduled-service revenue of JOD 425.3 million (USD 600 million).
  • Passengers still dominate: JOD 377.2 million (USD 532 million), 82% of the group and 89% of scheduled services.
  • Cargo warehouse revenue fell 28% to JOD 6.4 million (USD 9.1 million) from JOD 9.0 million (USD 12.7 million). Flying cargo, mail and warehouse together were JOD 47.1 million (USD 66.5 million), about 10% of group revenue.
  • Q2 did the lift: scheduled cargo JOD 24.1 million (USD 34.0 million) versus JOD 9.1 million (USD 12.8 million) in Q2 2025.
  • Charter cargo was flat at JOD 1.8 million (USD 2.5 million) in both first halves.
  • The interim accounts do not split freighter versus passenger flights, or give cargo tonnes or ATK. Cargo remains a belly-hold and mail business on a passenger network.

Rates: JOD 0.709/USD (1 Oct 2026)

Sources:

Jordan Royal Jordanian cargo Business Model Network Changes

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