Amman City Airport: The Renaissance of Jordan’s Original Aviation Gateway

These days, the Marka district, home to the new ‘Amman City Airport’, feels different. Where for years the horizon was dominated by the stationary tails of flight academy Cessnas, there is now the unmistakable thrum of high-performance turbofans.

Over a century ago, the same Marka dust was kicked up by the Bristol F.2B Fighters of the Royal Air Force’s No. 14 Squadron, as they landed on a dusty airstrip in February 1920. By 1950, the British had founded the airport as a joint military-civilian facility.

For decades, Amman Civil Airport, also known as Marka International Airport due to its location in the Marka district was the singular, prestigious gateway to the Hashemite Kingdom, a place of red carpets and the roar of Vickers Viscounts, and eventually, to the introduction of the jet age and Alia’s (the original name of Royal Jordanian Airlines first Boeing 707s.

Then came the silence of 1983. As the wide-body era demanded longer runways and more space, the nation’s aviation gateway migrated 35 kilometres south to the then newly commissioned Queen Alia International Airport (AMM | OJAI). Marka was relegated to a “ghost of the jet age,” serving as a training base for the Royal Jordanian Air Academy and a niche hub for private aviation.

The Urban Revolution

The quiet years have officially ended. On 30 November 2025, the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC) formally granted the license for civil aviation operations to the Jordan Airports Company (JAC).

Under the government’s Economic Modernisation Vision, the facility has been rebranded as “Amman City Airport”. This is not just a name change, but a structural realignment of Jordan’s aviation landscape. The dual-airport strategy transforms Jordan’s high-cost aviation model into a competitive regional hub by utilising an existing national asset, unlocking an additional 1 million annual passenger capacity.

The shift in Amman City Airport’s mission to commercial scheduled aviation clearly segments the Low Cost Carriers (LCCs) and Flag Carrier markets. Amman City Airport will exclusively serve LCCs and regional traffic, who require lower fees, faster “turnaround times,” and its closer proximity to downtown, thereby easing pressure on premium-priced Queen Alia International Airport.

The rebranding is a calculated move, positioning the airport as a high-speed alternative for business and budget-conscious travellers alike. By leveraging its 5-kilometre proximity to the capital’s centre, it mirrors the successful “city airport” models of London and Toronto.

Technical Precision and the 80-Tonne Limit

The physical transformation has been exhaustive. The original runway, which was extended to 3,286 metres in the 1970s, has undergone total rehabilitation to meet modern safety protocols. Crucially, the airport is now certified to handle aircraft with a maximum weight of 80 tonnes, which is the “sweet spot”, perfectly accommodating the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 models favoured by low-cost carriers (LCCs).

The regulatory foundation was finalised with the Advisor for the Intelligent Resolution of Predicted Aircraft (AIRAC) Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) Amendment 24/25, which became effective on 25 December 2025 . This technical document updated the world’s navigation charts, formally designating the site as OJAM AD – Amman City Airport (ADJ | OJAM), signalling its readiness to the global aviation community.

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Jazeeera Airways Signs Commercial Deal for Amman City Airport / Credit: Jordan News Agency

The Landmark Deal: Jazeera Airways

Commercial viability was cemented on 29 December 2025. In a high-profile ceremony, Ahmed Azzam, CEO of the Jordan Airports Company (JAC), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jazeera Airways CEO Barathan Pasupathi.

Jazeera Airways, a powerhouse in the regional low-cost sector, will be the first carrier to launch scheduled flights from the airport beginning in the second half of January 2026. The airline plans to introduce its signature “T5 experience” to Amman, focusing on a streamlined, “time-and-money” journey that bypasses the congestion of larger hubs.

This partnership is a deliberate move to alleviate pressure on Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA). While QAIA remains the flagship airport for long-haul and intercontinental travel, Amman City Airport will carve out a niche as a city gateway for short-haul flights from the Levant and the Gulf.

A Pipeline for a Secondary Hub

The Jazeera deal is only the beginning of a broader vision. Director General Ahmed Azzam has confirmed that the JAC is in advanced discussions with other industry titans, including Wizz Air, Ryanair, Flynas, and Air Cairo.

The pull for these carriers is simple: lower operational costs and unparalleled urban access. Many are expected to transition their short-haul routes from QAIA to Marka’s ‘Amman City Airport’ during the 2026 summer season as their existing commitments conclude.

The targets are ambitious yet grounded in data. The JAC expects to handle one million passengers annually by the end of 2026, with a capacity goal of 1.5 million by 2027.

Legacy Meets Modernity

To minimise the impact on the surrounding Marka community, the airport will initially operate on a daytime-only schedule. This phased approach reflects a modern commitment to sustainability and urban harmony, even as the facility returns to its historic roots as a commercial hub.

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan has described the reopening as a “key objective of the national modernisation project”. It is a story of redemption for an old airstrip, proving that in the world of aviation, what was once old can be revitalised through the lens of strategic vision. The ghost of the British Royal Air Force has finally been replaced by the very real, very profitable future of the Amman City Airport.

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