As service on United Airlines between Washington Dulles and Amman remains suspended, Royal Jordanian has cheekily announced that it will launch service to Washington, DC.
Royal Jordanian Plans Add Nonstop Service Between Amman – Washington, Challenging United Airlines
In a social media ad teasing the new route, an almost Jimmy Hendrix version of the National Anthem begins to play in the background with the following message:
- A red MAGA-style hat is embroidered with the text “He is back!”
- Next, RJ shares “And we’re taking you right to the middle of the action!”
- Then, a message saying “Fly Non-Stop to Washington D.C.” with emphasis on nonstop
- The final page says “Stay tuned!”
https://twitter.com/FlyingHighRyan/status/1856465900053946739
A bit unorthodox of a route announcement, but it sounds like RJ will be flying from AMM-IAD nonstop…
That’s news not only for the route itself but because it represents a direct challenge to United Airlines, which operated its own nonstop service between the two capitals until war broke out between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.
Since then, United has not only “temporarily” suspended the route, but removed it completely from the schedule, thereby suggesting that the route will not return anytime soon. Even so, United has suggested the route will return:
Our flights to AMM remain suspended and have been fully removed from our schedule until further notice.
We look forward to resuming flights as soon as it’s safe for our customers and crew.
> Read More: United Airlines Suspends Amman Service Through End Of Schedule
Will the addition of the RJ flight on the same route make United more willing to bring back the route or less willing? My guess is more…United does not like competition of that nature and I can see a fare war developing, which only consumers benefit from, at least on a short-term basis.
My contacts in Jordan tell me the country’s tourism industry is dying right now, making it an ideal time to visit the Hashemite Kingdom. It’s a beautiful country with delicious cuisine and I would not hesitate to recommend a trip there, even with the geopolitical uncertainty present in the region.
CONCLUSION
While United Airlines has removed its Washington – Amman flight from the schedule, Royal Jordanian has hinted it will fill the void with nonstop service of it own. I welcome any competition and more access to Jordan, one of my favorite nations to visit.
(hat tip: OMAAT)
“While United Airlines has removed its Washington – Amman flight from the schedule”
UA was probably benefiting and could capitalize from feeding people from other cities in the US to Amman via IAD. RJ isn’t going to be able to do that given the very limited domestic connections offered by AA and AS at IAD. I guess RJ is hoping there is enough interest from their side to travel to DC or something?
Use it to send to Jordan the pro-palestine-state protesters at Colombia U.
The only downside of that is Jordan will likely return them right back .
Thanks for providing you usual asinine comments.
You are welcome .
Captain Obvious has informed me that RJ have a hub at AMM and could always sell connections to/from places around the Near and Middle East.
Captain obvious would also like to inform you that as Matthew alluded to in the article, tourism was becoming a big thing in Jordan so is there enough demand from IAD (with only half a dozen OW flights that could provide feeder traffic at best) to AMM based on just the people in the DMV? To be honest AMM isn’t one of the bigger transfer hubs for people in the region.
Captain Obvious would also like to remind you that British Airways and Qatar both also fly out of IAD and probably provide a better network for people will to travel to the area.
PM Obviously knows Captain Obvious , but Aaron often appears Oblivious to Captain Obvious .
Ah, now you’re veering into useless as well as asinine. Which isn’t s surprise. But hey, you keep doing you…
Well considering RJ’s codeshare partner AA has the newly obtained GSA contract for 2025 it won’t be only fed by the Jordanian side…it will be flying all US government traffic to Amman.
RJ will do just fine on this route they already serve JFK, DTW, and ORD nonstop from AMM. Clearly they aren’t getting any help from AA at DTW and I would question how much connecting traffic AA is sending them if any at ORD and JFK given AA’s deeper ties to Qatar.
This one is a bit odd to me. I do not expect that government can generate lots of demand. Maybe they think DC having a substantial OW presence at DCA might justify the flight. I am quite close to DCA and AA plat for life, so I ampleased at the prospect of more OW at Dulles. But I am equally perplexed.
As they say, any attention is good attention in terms of their ad.
I’m not completely surprised as RJ is always looking towards expanding their international routes and were smart to fill the void.
Know your market. Clearly RJ does not. Would have been better to launch Dallas flights with a “Coal Pushing to Amman” hat.
As to Government contracts, all UA has to do is bring back Amman and all contracts go to them automatically. Not that there is that much for Jordan, it’s barely existent. As to connectivity, to compare RJ’s connectivity in Amman as a thing….laughable. They will get their lunch served cold at IAD to the ME, Asia against EK, EY, QR, TK etc.
Wrong campaign, wrong market for OW, wrong everything. And they will manage to insult a huge base population in the DMV that is a vast majority anti-MAGA,
But AMM isn’t really in the Middle East- it’s a Near Eastern destination. They clearly won’t be the best way to travel between the USA and the UAE, but there’s only a small amount of backtracking involved in flying them between the USA and CAI/ATH/LCA, and that might make them attractive to pax who aren’t keen on 4-5 hours in eurobusiness or on a Y cabin without complimentary catering.
Agree regarding how good jordan is to visit. Lovely vibrant safe country. Awesome people. Great food. One of the best destinations I’ve visited. Exploring Roman ruins with basically no tourists in jerash was worth the trip alone.
Good! RJ is vastly superior.