The Jordan Tourism Board has signed agreements with low-cost air carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air to operate direct flights to Jordan starting in April, Al Ghad reported on March 13.

The companies are significantly expanding their Middle East presence, particularly in Jordan and Israel, after resuming routes that had been temporarily suspended due to regional tensions.

Dr. Abdulrazzaq Arabiyat, managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board, announced that Ryanair will operate 27 weekly flights through 14 direct routes to Amman from major European cities, including Milan, Paris, Madrid, Rome, Vienna, Budapest, Bologna, Brussels, Bucharest, Marseille, Poznan, Pisa, Paphos, and Memmingen. The Irish carrier is expected to transfer 125,000 passengers to Jordan during the summer season, which runs from April to October.

"These agreements will boost Jordan's ability to attract more European tourists, marking a significant development in the country's tourism and aviation sectors," Arabiyat said, highlighting the positive impact on the economy, including increased tourist arrivals, hotel occupancy, and revitalisation of local services.

Wizz Air will operate six direct routes to Amman from London, Abu Dhabi, Budapest, Rome, Milan, and Vienna, as well as three direct routes to Aqaba from Warsaw, Bucharest, and Katowice. The airline will add two more routes later in 2025, with an expected 145,000 passengers travelling via Wizz Air annually.

The move enhances Jordan's ability to attract more tourists from European markets and support Jordanian efforts to expand direct flight networks.

The Jordan Tourism Board said it will continue implementing advanced marketing strategies targeting European and global markets, aiming to strengthen Jordan's position as a key regional tourism hub.

Ryanair, established in 1984, is one of Europe's largest low-cost airlines serving over 40 countries. Wizz Air, established in 2003, focuses on Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

Arabiyat reiterated the board's commitment to expanding direct flight networks and increasing tourist numbers to the kingdom.