Transportation Minister: Royal Jordanian to be able to increase flights to Tel Aviv

RJ can expand its cargo operations to Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport to three weekly flights. In return, Israeli airlines will be able to begin operating cargo flights to Jordan
 
The Israeli Civil Aviation Authority said last week it granted permission to Royal Jordanian Airlines to increase the number of flights it operates to Ben-Gurion airport, Tel Aviv.
 
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz informed the Jordanian airline at a meeting between Israeli and Jordanian airline officials in Akaba it could expand its cargo operations to Tel Aviv's Ben-Gurion airport to three weekly flights. In return, Israeli airlines will be able to begin operating cargo flights to Jordan.
 
According to the Israeli Transportation Ministry, some 65,000 passengers traveled between Tel Aviv and Jordan in 2006 and that 90% of Israelis flying to Amman use Amman as a connecting point to the Far East and the Persian Gulf.
 
The Jordanians also requested from Mofaz to increase its scheduled passenger flights to Tel Aviv. It currently operates 12 weekly flights while Arkia Israel Airlines, flies the route twice a week. Late last week it was made known that Royal Jordanian plans to upgrade the planes it uses on its Israel route due to increased demand.
 
The new aircraft - Embraer plane will have 95 seats, instead of the previous 68 of its ATR aircraft currently on the route.