ROYAL JORDANIAN secured board approval for its five-year turnaround plan, which aims to enhance unit revenues by 7% and lower unit costs by 6%. Part of the project is a fleet consolidation review, with the aim of lowering maintenance and training costs by reducing the number of types it operates. The airline currently uses four Airbus A319s, seven A320s and two A321s, as well as three Embraer 175s and two E195s on shorthaul operations with seven Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners used for long-haul flights. CEO Stefan Pilcher revealed the airline’s 26-strong fleet was planned to grow to 30 aircraft by 2021. Pilcher also confirmed the airline was looking at adding more Economy Class seating to its narrowbody fleet and shrinking the Premium seating cabins.
The five-year plan also includes new international routes to Washington/Dulles, Copenhagen and Stockholm. Royal Jordanian has also committed to resuming services to war-torn destinations such as Damascus (Syria), Mosul (Iraq), Sana and Aden (both Yemen) and Benghazi (Libya), as soon as they become feasible.