Royal Jordanian set to increase Libyan flights

Royal Jordanian has announced plans to increase its operations to Libyan destinations to 15 weekly flights, in light of the growing demand on travel between the two counties.

The airline said in a statement that it will add three flights between Amman and Tripoli from Saturday, bringing its overall operation to Tripoli up to 10 weekly from one daily.

The service between Amman and Misrata also increased from 1 to 2 weekly earlier this week while the airline operates three weekly flights to Benghazi.

"This step is taken to meet the rising demand - from Jordanian and Libyan businessmen and students on travel between the two countries," the statement said.

"Demand also comes from Libyans who seek medical care in Jordan, and from passengers traveling from the Gulf region to Libya via Amman," the airline added.

RJ will run its service to Misrata on Tuesdays and Fridays while the additional three flights to Tripoli will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Royal Jordanian, a member of the Oneworld, reported a loss of JRD57.9m ($82m) in 2011, compared with a JD9.6m profit the year before.

The carrier has consolidated some of its routes and reduced flight frequencies in the wake of political turmoil in the Arab world last year, high oil prices and stiffer competition from carriers in the Gulf.

The airline was founded in 1963 and operates 32 aircraft. It was the first Middle Eastern airline to order Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. It expects to take delivery of its first 787 in 2014.