Royal Jordanian operates its first direct service between Amman and Montreal, Canada on May 25. It will thus resume operating a regular, non-stop flight between the two cities, having halted its operations to Montreal for ten years due to commercial reasons.

President/CEO Samer Majali said that studies and market researches conducted by the company in the Canadian market showed that there is commercial feasibility in reconnecting Canada and Jordan, thus serving the Arab communities and Jordanian and Arab students living there, helping the active commercial activities and businessmen traveling between the two countries. On the inaugural flight to Montreal, Majali will escort a delegation that includes a number of officials, journalists and local tour operators.

RJ will be using Airbus A340 to operate two non-stop weekly flights, on Mondays and on Fridays. The plane will depart at 2 a.m. local time, and arrive in Montreal at 7 a.m. local time. The flight from Montreal departs at 12 noon, local time, and arrives in Amman at 5:45 a.m. local time.

RJ flights from Montreal-Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport will fulfill the increase in travel between Canada and the Middle East. The new service represents the fastest and most convenient air travel from Montreal to Amman and from there to some 20 cities across the Middle East, in the Indian subcontinent and in the Far East.

Majali pointed out that the airline is partnering with Jordan Tourism Board North America’s (JTBNA) Canada office to promote and market tourism between the two countries. For two years, JTBNA has been working closely with Canadian tour operators, travel agents, museums, non-profit organizations and the media to build awareness about Jordan as a destination and a gateway for Canadians interested in experiencing the wonders of the Kingdom.

Majali mentioned that Royal Jordanian has provided free seats on the inaugural flight form Montreal to Amman to a number of travel media representatives and Canadian tour operators in order to enable them to visit Jordan and get introduced to its tourist, historical and archeological sites and develop new business.

He said that the airline announced its intention to introduce 12 Boeing 787s Dreamliner to replace its long-range Airbus A340s and A310s aircraft, currently operating on the North American and Far East routes. Montreal is the fourth North American gateway for Royal Jordanian, in addition to New York, Chicago and Detroit.

RJ’s membership in the oneworld airline alliance since April 1 this year offers RJ customers a wider range of options to travel to the 700-destination network on any of the alliance’s ten airline members, in addition to the various privileges the alliance offers passengers.

Majali said that the airline will also open a new direct route to the Hungarian capital, Budapest this summer. The new station will bring the airline’s destinations to 54, spread over four continents.

Montreal is located in the southeast of Canada, 275 kilometers far from Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec, and 190 kilometers east of Ottawa. It also lies 550 kilometers northwest of Toronto, and 625 kilometers north of New York City. Montreal is an important centre for commerce, industry, culture, finance and world affairs. Its industries include aerospace, electronic goods, software engineering, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and transportation. It is considered a transportation hub, with well developed air, road, rail and maritime links to the rest of Canada, as well as to the United States and Europe. Montreal’s Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport is the third busiest airport in Canada. In 2006, it handled more than 11 million passengers and around 214,000 aircraft movements. The airport is one of the most connected airports in North America.
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