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Amman's Queen Alia International Airport was closed for almost six months in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jordanian government announced a gradual reopening of the airport in July 2020, with a partial resumption of commercial flights in August to a limited number of countries. The airport fully reopened to regular flights on September 8, 2020, with health protocols in place for arriving passengers. However, in 2024, Lufthansa announced it was suspending flights to Amman following turmoil in the Middle East, specifically Iran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of reopening | 8 September 2020 |
| Type of flights | Regular commercial flights |
| Airports | Amman Airport (AMM), Queen Alia International Airport |
| Flight destinations | Europe, Asia |
| Countries on the safe list | Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Greece, Hong Kong, Thailand |
| Rules for passengers | Negative COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to travel, testing on arrival, self-isolation for a minimum of one week |
| Reopening plan | Gradual, coordinated between the ministries of health and tourism, the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission and the Crisis Management Cell |
| Recent closures | April 2024 due to Iran's attacks on Israel |
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What You'll Learn
Amman Airport to reopen on September 8, 2020
Jordan's Amman Airport will reopen to commercial flights on September 8, 2020, after a six-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jordanian aviation authorities announced the reopening on September 2, 2020, stating that regularly scheduled flights from Amman Airport (AMM) will resume from Tuesday, September 8.
The decision to reopen the airport is part of Jordan's efforts to revive its economy, particularly the tourism industry, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic. Jordan's Information Minister, Amjad Al-Adayla, stated that the country will implement rules for incoming passengers based on the epidemiological situation in their countries of origin. These rules may include a minimum of one week of self-isolation or a maximum of two weeks of quarantine for arriving passengers.
All travellers will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before departure and will also be tested upon arrival. This reopening comes after Jordan gradually eased COVID-19 restrictions in recent months, including permitting public gatherings of up to 20 people, allowing movement between governorates, and reopening the tourist industry with limited operations.
The airport's resumption of operations will be gradual and coordinated between various entities, including the ministries of health and tourism, the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, and the Crisis Management Cell. The gradual approach will follow health protocols determined by the Ministry of Health, ensuring the safe resumption of travel while managing the epidemiological situation in the country.
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Closure due to COVID-19 pandemic
Jordan's Amman Airport was closed for six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airport's closure was part of the country's early steps to restrict the mobility of its 10 million people, sealing its borders, imposing a state of emergency, and implementing a night curfew. Jordan has withstood the COVID-19 pandemic better than most of its regional neighbours, recording minimal cases in the weeks leading up to the airport's closure, with most infections stemming from incoming international travellers.
During the airport's closure, the Jordanian government allowed repatriation flights, bringing home over 20,000 stranded citizens from the Gulf, the United States, and Europe. The kingdom also permitted the resumption of entertainment activities in resorts and eased restrictions on economic activity, public gatherings, and movement between governorates.
In July 2020, Jordanian authorities announced their intention to gradually reopen the airport, starting with a limited resumption of international flights to select countries in August. This decision was coordinated between various ministries and regulatory bodies to ensure adherence to health protocols and maintain the country's positive epidemiological situation.
On September 2, 2020, Jordanian aviation authorities confirmed that regularly scheduled commercial flights to and from Amman Airport would resume on September 8, following the six-month closure. Incoming passengers were subject to rules and restrictions based on the epidemiological situation in their countries of origin, including self-isolation and quarantine requirements, as well as mandatory negative COVID-19 tests before and upon arrival.
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Gradual reopening, coordinated with ministries of health and tourism
The decision to reopen the airport in Amman, Jordan, will be ""gradual" and coordinated between the ministries of health and tourism, the Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, and the Crisis Management Cell. Minister of Transport Khaled Saif emphasised that the decision to reopen the airport is not unilateral and depends on other countries and their preparations. As such, the reopening will be a cautious and coordinated effort, with health and tourism at the forefront.
The gradual reopening of the airport will follow protocols determined by the Ministry of Health, with a focus on health directives for the different stages of passengers' travel. This includes rules for incoming passengers depending on the epidemiological situation in their countries of origin. All travellers will be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours before travel and will be tested again upon arrival. Depending on the situation in their country of origin, passengers may also be required to self-isolate for a minimum of one week or quarantine for up to two weeks.
The reopening of the airport is a crucial step in Jordan's efforts to revive its economy, particularly the tourism industry, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic. Before the pandemic, Jordan's tourism sector generated 14% of the country's GDP and employed around 100,000 people. The country also had a lucrative medical tourism industry, attracting approximately 250,000 visitors annually, contributing $1.5 billion to the economy.
The gradual reopening of the airport will allow Jordan to balance the resumption of tourism and economic activities while prioritising the health and safety of its citizens and visitors. This cautious approach will help ensure that the country can maintain its "good epidemiological situation" as it navigates the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Lufthansa suspends flights to Amman
Lufthansa Group, which includes the German flagship carrier Lufthansa, along with Swiss and Austrian Airlines, has suspended flights to Amman, Jordan, and several other Middle Eastern destinations. The suspension, which was announced on Sunday, was to last until at least Monday amid fears of further escalation in the region due to turmoil unleashed by Iran's attack on Israel. The group also stated that its flights would avoid the airspace above Israel, Jordan, and Iraq for the foreseeable future. This decision comes as tensions in the Middle East have escalated following Israel's war in Gaza and the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran.
Lufthansa Group is not the only airline to have suspended or altered its flights to the Middle East due to the escalating tensions in the region. Several other airlines worldwide have also changed their flight paths or cancelled services to ensure the safety of their passengers and crew. The situation has led to uncertainty and disruption for travellers, with some being offered the option to rebook or cancel their flights free of charge.
The suspension of flights by Lufthansa and other airlines highlights the delicate security situation in the Middle East and the potential risks to civil aviation. Airlines are taking precautionary measures to avoid any potential hazards, such as avoiding certain airspaces or suspending flights to specific destinations. These measures aim to protect passengers, crew, and aircraft from potential harm.
While the suspension by Lufthansa was initially announced to last until Monday, the situation in the Middle East remains fluid and unpredictable. It is unclear if the suspension has been extended further or if flights to Amman and other affected destinations have resumed. Passengers planning to travel to the region are advised to stay updated with the latest information from official sources and their respective airlines.
The Amman Airport in Jordan had previously been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed operations on September 8, 2020, with strict health and safety protocols in place for incoming passengers. Jordan had gradually eased its COVID-19 restrictions, allowing entertainment activities in resorts to resume and reopening hotels, cafes, and restaurants while permitting public gatherings and movement between governorates.
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Jordan's economy and tourism industry impacted by airport closure
Jordan's economy and tourism industry have been significantly impacted by the closure of Amman Airport. The airport, which serves as a major hub for the region, was shut down for almost six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with all international flights suspended and borders closed. This had a crippling effect on the country's tourism sector, which usually welcomes around five million visitors annually, contributing approximately 14% of Jordan's GDP and providing employment for about 100,000 people.
The medical tourism industry, which was also lucrative for Jordan, suffered greatly during the airport closure. Before the pandemic, around a quarter of a million people travelled to Jordan each year for medical treatments, bringing in approximately $1.5 billion. The suspension of flights and the subsequent reduction in passenger traffic had a detrimental ripple effect on various sectors linked to the aviation and tourism industries.
The transport sector, including land, air, and sea transport companies, was particularly affected. However, the Central Bank of Jordan provided financial support to 64 transport companies, totalling JD28 million in value. Additionally, the National Aid Fund assisted 27,000 families of workers in the public transport sector, providing them with a total of JD8.5 million.
The gradual reopening of Amman Airport, which began on September 8, 2020, was a much-needed relief for the struggling economy. The resumption of commercial flights and the easing of travel restrictions were expected to stimulate economic activity and revive the tourism industry. Jordan's Information Minister, Amjad Al-Adayla, announced that the country would set rules for incoming passengers based on the epidemiological situation in their countries of origin, with testing and quarantine requirements in place.
Despite the challenges, Jordan managed to withstand the COVID-19 pandemic better than many of its regional neighbours. The early implementation of restrictions in mid-March 2020 helped curb the spread of the virus, allowing the country to gradually lift restrictions and reopen various sectors, including hotels, cafes, and entertainment activities in resorts.
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Frequently asked questions
Jordan's Amman Airport reopened on September 8, 2020.
The airport closed in mid-March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yes, in July 2020, Jordan announced that some international flights would resume in August.
Yes, Jordan's economy was badly hit by the pandemic, especially its tourism and medical tourism industries.
Yes, the airport was closed again in April 2024 due to Iran's attacks on Israel.
