Queen Alia International Airport welcomes first SaudiGulf Airlines flight

AMMAN  — Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) on Thursday welcomed SaudiGulf Airlines’ inaugural flight to the Kingdom, which will be followed by four trips each week between Amman and the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

Upon arrival, the flight received the customary “water arch” salute and was greeted by representatives of Airport International Group, the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, the Jordan Tourism Board, Petra Travel & Tourism Company and SaudiGulf Airlines, as well as the airline’s ground handler, Royal Jordanian Airlines, according to an Airport International Group statement.

“By welcoming SaudiGulf Airlines onboard, we are actively growing our existing airline network and offering our passengers an even wider range of travel choices, ultimately encouraging tourism and stimulating economic development, while bringing us one step closer to our goal of solidifying QAIA’s position as Jordan’s prime gateway to the world,” Kjeld Binger, CEO of Airport International Group, was quoted in the statement as saying.

Wael Kawar, managing partner of Petra Travel & Tourism Company, commented: “We are pleased to commence the regular operation of flights between Riyadh and Amman through our partnership with SaudiGulf Airlines. This mutual collaboration not only presents passengers with enhanced service levels via a brand new fleet and premium products for both business and economy classes, but will also strengthen bilateral relations between Jordan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

Airport International Group is a Jordanian company that harnesses the airport management and construction expertise of regional and international partners in order to rehabilitate, expand and operate Jordan’s premier gateway, QAIA. 

Airport International Group was awarded its 25-year Build-Operate-Transfer concession in 2007 by the Jordanian government after an open global tender overseen by the International Finance Corporation, according to the statement.