Royal Jordanian plans to add Russian destinations despite higher costs

Royal Jordanian plans to keep expanding its Russia network even though those flights cost far more to run than comparable international routes. Karim Makhlouf, the airline's head of sales, put the premium at 20 to 30 percent, pointing to higher insurance premiums, longer routings and restrictions on international financial transactions.

Three weekly Moscow-Ammam flights are already operating. A twice-weekly service to Aqaba starts 15 November.

St Petersburg is to join the network in the first quarter of 2027, with Yekaterinburg and Sochi also under consideration. Royal Jordanian is targeting between 60,000 and 80,000 passengers a year between Russia and Jordan in 2027 and 2028.