Royal Jordanian (RJ) will inaugurate its new direct regular route from Amman to the Indonesian capital Jakarta tomorrow (December 23).

Jakarta is the forth new RJ destination this year. The airline started operating to Ankara on December 8 and to Tabuk and Najaf earlier in the year.

RJ president/CEO Captain Suleiman Obeidat said reopening the Amman-Jakarta route comes at a time when Indonesia is witnessing a remarkable growth in air traffic. Indonesia is the 17th largest economy worldwide.

RJ operated flights to Jakarta between 1992 and 2002, but they were suspended for commercial reasons.

Captain Obeidat said this route is bound to carry tourists from Jordan and the Levant to Indonesia and from there transport Indonesian students who study at Jordanian universities. The route will also serve the Indonesian labour force, cargo and business traffic.

Captain Obeidat added that the feasibility studies conducted by Royal Jordanian showed that this route is important for Haj and Umrah pilgrims and for transit passengers who come to Amman in order to connect to the cities served by RJ network and that of oneworld carriers.

RJ will operate to Jakarta via Kuala Lumpur three times a week -- on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays -- using the wide body Airbus 330 aircraft. - TradeArabia News Service