Jazmin Li
Queen Alia International Airport (IATA: AMM, ICAO: OJAI) is an international airport located in Zizya, 20 to 32 kilometres south of Amman, the capital of Jordan. It is named after Queen Alia, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977. The airport is the largest in Jordan and is home to the country's flag carrier, Royal Jordanian. It is also one of the busiest airports in the Middle East.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Queen Alia International Airport |
| Location | Zizya, 20-32km south of Amman, Jordan |
| Year of Construction | 1983, 2005-2012 |
| Architect | Norman Foster, Foster + Partners |
| Operator | Airport International Group (AIG) |
| Owner | Groupe Aéroports de Paris (Groupe ADP) |
| Airlines | Royal Jordanian, Jordan Aviation |
| Awards | 2013 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards, 2014 Airport Customer Experience Accreditation (ACEA) |
| Services and Amenities | Duty-free shops, restaurants and cafes, children's play areas, free Wi-Fi, prayer rooms, ATMs, currency exchange, information desk, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Alia, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977
Queen Alia International Airport in Zizya, Jordan, is named after Queen Alia, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977. The airport was built in 1983, six years after Queen Alia's death, and was named in her honour.
Queen Alia, born Alia Bahauddin Toukan, was the third wife of King Hussein of Jordan. They married in 1972, and she became Queen Alia Al Hussein. The young queen was known for her elegance, beauty, and kindness. She was well-respected and loved by the people of Jordan and Palestine, and she played an active role in the development of the country.
Queen Alia created the Office of the Queen of Jordan and worked to improve the lives of women and children. She financed social development projects and was passionate about education, especially for children from impoverished backgrounds. She made surprise visits to hospitals and national institutions to raise service standards and empower people to help themselves. During her reign, she also called for women's suffrage in Jordan, which was granted in 1974.
In addition to her domestic work, Queen Alia had a global impact. She and King Hussein adopted Abir, a young Palestinian girl whose parents had been killed in a plane crash in a refugee camp near the Amman airport. Queen Alia's compassion extended beyond her own country, and she left a lasting legacy in the lives she touched.
On February 9, 1977, Queen Alia died in a helicopter crash in Amman, Jordan. She was returning from an inspection trip to Tafileh Hospital in southern Jordan when the crash occurred during a violent rainstorm. Her death was announced by King Hussein on the radio, and her funeral was held the following day with members of the Jordanian Armed Forces and foreign dignitaries in attendance.
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Airport expansion and development
Queen Alia International Airport, located in Zizya, 20-32 kilometres south of Amman, Jordan, is named after Queen Alia, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977. It is the largest airport in Jordan and one of the busiest in the Middle East.
The airport has undergone significant expansion and development over the years, with a focus on meeting the growing demands of air travel in the region. In 2007, the Jordanian government selected Airport International Group (AIG) to operate, rehabilitate, and manage the airport under a 25-year concession agreement. As part of this agreement, AIG was tasked with constructing a new terminal to address the insufficient annual capacity of 3.5 million passengers. The new terminal, designed by Foster + Partners, was inaugurated in March 2013 and features a modular design inspired by Bedouin tents, with a canopy of domes. The expansion also included a 25% increase in retail space, covering more than 6,000 square metres, and various amenities such as restaurants, supermarkets, a duty-free area, and a children's play area.
The expansion aimed to establish Queen Alia International Airport as the primary aviation hub in Jordan. To achieve this, AIG collaborated closely with the Jordanian government and received support from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) as the lead advisor for structuring and awarding the concession. The expansion was planned to be implemented in two phases, with the first phase including the construction of a state-of-the-art third terminal building spanning 86,000 square metres. The project's total cost was estimated at $750 million.
The airport's continuous development is evident through its achievements, such as receiving multiple Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards and becoming one of the world's top 40 public-private partnership projects in 2013. By 2012, Queen Alia International Airport was serving over 6 million passengers and 40 airlines worldwide, solidifying its position as Jordan's main international gateway and a prominent stopover for international airlines in the Middle East.
Other notable airport expansion and development projects include:
- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's Journey with AUS program, which includes a $1.1-2 billion Concourse B project featuring new passenger and tenant spaces, boarding bridges, and an expanded baggage handling system.
- Denver International Airport's $1.3 billion Great Hall expansion project, which will enlarge and renovate the airport over nearly a decade.
- St. Louis Airport's planned consolidation of terminals, resulting in a single terminal with 62 gates, increased retail space, and additional parking.
- San Francisco International Airport's $2.6 billion Terminal 3 West Modernization project, renovating and expanding the existing terminal.
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's $1.4 billion expansion of Concourse D.
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QAIA's awards and recognition
Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) has received numerous awards and recognition for its excellence in airport operations and development. Here is an overview of some of QAIA's notable awards and recognition:
Awards and Recognition:
- Airport Customer Experience Accreditation (ACEA): In 2023, QAIA became the first airport in the Middle East to achieve Level 3 of the ACEA. It was also one of eight airports in the Middle East and one of sixty-one airports globally to receive this accreditation.
- Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards: In February 2014, QAIA received two ASQ Awards, ranking first in the "Best Improvement by Region: Middle East" category and 5th in the "Best Airport by Region: Middle East" category. The awards are based on international airport passenger satisfaction surveys. QAIA continued its impressive performance by again receiving the "Best Improvement in the Middle East region" award in 2014.
- Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Recognition: In March 2013, QAIA was recognised as one of the world's top 40 PPP projects, receiving Gold recognition as the "Best Emerging Market Infrastructure Project for Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa" in the Emerging Partnerships category. This award highlighted the successful collaboration between the Jordanian government and private sector partners.
- ISO Environmental Certification: The new terminal, inaugurated in March 2013, received ISO environmental certification, making QAIA the second airport in the Middle East to achieve this distinction.
- Design Excellence: The terminal designed by Foster + Partners is renowned for its architectural excellence, inspired by Bedouin tents with a canopy of domes. The design won the 2013 International Architecture Award for the best new terminal project and was a finalist for the 2014 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
- Traffic Growth and Management: QAIA has experienced significant growth in passenger traffic, with over 8.9 million passengers passing through in 2019. The airport's efficient management has allowed it to handle this increase, with an annual growth rate of 6% expected until 2030, ultimately increasing its capacity to 12-16 million passengers per year.
These awards and recognitions solidify QAIA's position as a leading airport in the Middle East and globally, known for its commitment to service quality, environmental sustainability, design excellence, and efficient management.
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Airport facilities and services
Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) is located in Zizya, 20-32 kilometres south of Amman, Jordan. It is the largest airport in the country and one of the busiest in the Middle East. The airport was built in 1983 to accommodate the growing airport traffic that Amman Civil Airport could not. It is named after Queen Alia, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977.
Queen Alia International Airport has a range of facilities and services for passengers. The airport has three lounges, including one for business and first-class passengers operated by Royal Jordanian, and another for VIP customers run by Zain Jordan. The airport also has a large duty-free shopping area, a children's play area, restaurants, bars, banks, a pharmacy, and a prayer hall. The terminal houses several international food and beverage venues, including a nuts roastery and supermarkets. Retail space was expanded by 25% at the new terminal, covering more than 6,000 square metres.
The airport has undergone several expansion phases to increase its capacity. The first expansion was completed in 2016, raising the airport's annual passenger traffic capacity to 12 million. The second expansion phase, costing $1 billion, aims to boost capacity to 16 million passengers annually by the end of 2032. The airport's design, inspired by Bedouin tents, allows for a 6% annual growth over the next 25 years, increasing capacity to 12.8 million passengers by 2030.
QAIA has received numerous accolades for its facilities and services. It is a 4-Star Airport, certified for its terminal facilities, comfort, cleanliness, shopping, food and beverages, and staff service standards. The airport has also received multiple Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards, including ranking first in the "Best Improvement by Region: Middle East" category in 2013 and 2014. In 2023, QAIA became the first airport in the Middle East to achieve Level 3 of the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation (ACEA).
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QAIA's role in Jordan's economy and tourism
Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) is the largest airport in Jordan and is located in Zizya, 20-32 kilometres south of the capital city, Amman. It is named after Queen Alia, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977.
QAIA is the country's primary international gateway and a stopover for international airlines in the Middle East. It is also the home base for the country's flag carrier, Royal Jordanian, and serves as a hub for Jordan Aviation. The airport was built in response to the growing airport traffic needs that the Amman Civil Airport could not accommodate.
QAIA has played a vital role in Jordan's economy and tourism sector. In 2019, the airport received more than 2.3 million tourists, contributing approximately 8.9% to the national economy, or JD2.9 billion, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. This contribution includes both direct and indirect economic impacts. The airport's CEO, Nicolas Claude, emphasised how QAIA advances leisure, commercial, and medical tourism by connecting major global destinations through its expanding network of airlines.
QAIA's role in Jordan's tourism is significant, as it accounts for more than 97% of all passengers travelling to and from the country. The airport's expansion aims to solidify its position as the primary airport hub in Jordan. The new terminal, designed by Foster + Partners, was inaugurated in March 2013 and reflects the local culture with its design inspired by Bedouin tents. The terminal features a range of facilities, including lounges, restaurants, supermarkets, a duty-free area, a children's play area, shopping outlets, and internet connectivity.
Jordan's economy relies on several sectors, including phosphates, potash, and their fertiliser derivatives; tourism; overseas remittances; and foreign aid. Tourism, in particular, has become Jordan's largest service export, contributing a third of total exports before the pandemic. The country has a rich history, ancient ruins, a Mediterranean climate, and diverse geography, all of which enhance its appeal as a tourist destination.
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Frequently asked questions
Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA).
Queen Alia was the queen of Jordan who died in a helicopter crash in 1977.
The airport was built between 2005 and 2012.
Queen Alia International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. In 2019, 8,924,080 passengers passed through the airport.
The airport has three lounges, a duty-free shop, restaurants and cafes, children's play areas, free Wi-Fi, prayer rooms, ATMs, currency exchange, and an information desk.
