Aqaba prepares for ‘tourism revival’
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The Red Sea resort city of Aqaba announced a revival of its tourism sector, with 91 Russian charter flights scheduled to land over the next four months.
Plans are also underway to make its airport more competitive. Munir Asad, general manager of Aqaba Airports Company and director of King Hussein International Airport (KHIA) said that the Russian flights — two of which have already landed — will transport more than 200 passengers each from now until middle of March 2016. The total number of incoming visitors is expected to reach 18,000.
To increase Aqaba’s accessibility for all travellers, airport management has also reached a ‘preliminary’ agreement with a Hungarian low-cost carrier to operate regular flights to KHIA. The agreement is expected to enter into force in February next year, with two flights scheduled per week, according to Asad.
The Aqaba Airports Company has also improved its service through the establishment of a facilitation programme as part of a two-phase development plan. The first phase, costing JOD25 million, will be completed in five to six months and includes rehabilitation of runway and expansion of arrivals building. The two facilities are now complete, as well as expansion of departure facility, which is under construction.
Asad said the second JOD35 m phase, to be completed in 2028, will include restructuring airport facilities, tower building and headquarters. The volume of investment at the airport exceeds JOD100 m. These include Al Baddad aircraft maintenance base and Ayla Aviation Academy.
As per statistics, the airport received 96,000 passengers in the first 10 months of this year, 154,000 in 2014, and 160,000 in 2013.
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