AMMAN — Jordan’s tourism sector is gearing up for a revival in European visitor numbers, as low-cost airlines prepare to resume operations to the Kingdom after a prolonged suspension.

 

According to the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, budget carriers are scheduled to restart flights by mid-September, offering routes to over 18 destinations across Europe. Flight frequency is expected to ramp up gradually as airlines rebuild their networks.

 

In a statement, the Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) confirmed that both Ryanair and Wizz Air will return to full operational capacity starting October 26. Officials view the return of affordable air travel as a critical step toward revitalising the hospitality industry, which has seen sluggish performance in recent months.

 

“Hotel occupancy has been lower than expected over the past two months, especially in Amman,” said Qusai Manaseer, a senior manager at a four-star hotel in the capital. “We rely heavily on European travellers who often seek affordable flight options, so the resumption of budget airlines should help us fill more rooms.”

 

Smaller accommodations are also feeling the impact. Dua Qu., who operates a boutique guesthouse in Amman’s Lweibdeh neighbourhood, described a slowdown in guest numbers compared to last year.

 

“European tourists arriving via low-cost carriers are essential for properties like ours. We are hopeful that demand will pick up quickly once flights resume,” she said.

 

Official figures reflect growing interest from European travellers. Between January and July of this year, Jordan welcomed 526,500 European tourists, a significant rise from 367,700 during the same period in 2024. European visitors made up 13.2 per cent of total arrivals, up from 10.6 per cent the previous year.

 

Tourism stakeholders are optimistic that the return of low-cost carriers could provide the momentum needed to carry the industry into a strong autumn and winter season.

 

Tourism Minister Emad Hijazin has recently said that the 2025/2026 winter season will feature the most extensive network of direct low-cost flights in Jordan’s history, connecting the country to 18 European cities. The services will be operated by Ryanair, Wizz Air, and Eurowings via Queen Alia International Airport.

 

As part of the network expansion, Wizz Air will introduce direct flights to Aqaba’s King Hussein International Airport from four European cities, Katowice and Warsaw in Poland, Bucharest in Romania, and Sofia in Bulgaria, with each route operating twice weekly. The move aims to position Aqaba as a leading destination for beach and winter tourism.

 

JTB Director General Abdulrazzaq Arabiyat said the new routes will launch gradually between September 16, 2025, and March 2026, with plans to extend services into the summer of 2026. The expanded network includes major hubs such as Milan, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, London, Stuttgart, Prague, Paphos, and Budapest.

 

“This initiative comes in response to the regional geopolitical challenges that have impacted tourism,” Arabiyat said. “It reflects our ongoing efforts to enhance air connectivity with target markets and support the tourism sector through increased accessibility.”

 

He added that improving direct links to key European cities and maintaining affordable travel options will strengthen Jordan’s competitiveness as a global destination and contribute significantly to the Kingdom’s national tourism strategy.