Airport News

Airport News

The new terminal at Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) has officially opened.

All Royal Jordanian flights will land and take off from Queen Alia International Airport’s new terminal from today.

Mazen Sabri, spokesman for Airport International Group (AIG), which operates AMM, said: “Our efforts will particularly be focused on targeting airlines operating routes in un-served markets, so that we may help develop AMM as a destination and hub within the next few years.”

Designed by Foster + Partners, the new terminal will expand QAIA’s capacity to 12 million passengers a year.

Stands will be available to accommodate Royal Jordanian’s B787s.

Sabri added: “The immediate focus for AIG is to further develop AMM as an emerging niche hub in the Middle East in partnership with Royal Jordanian.”

Under a five-year tourism strategy launched in 2011, Jordan is aiming to double the sector’s contribution to GDP to $6 billion, according to Sabri.

He added: “It is quite obvious that the new facility will have much more appealing impression on potential tourists compared to the old terminal, thus stimulating potential tourists towards a decision in favour of Jordan.

“The transfer time from arrival to departure is only a few minutes with minimal walking distances for passengers.

“For local departing passengers there is easy access to the boarding lounge and shopping areas directly from the security checkpoint.”

The completion of the first stage of the new terminal will open seven new stands plus a temporary remote boarding lounge with six gates, with a total capacity of more than 7 million passengers.

The demolition of the existing terminal will then trigger another phase in the expansion plan, bringing capacity up to nine million and then, eventually, 12 million.