Royal Jordanian is modifying its route network to North America. The Amman-based oneworld airline currently operates to four destinations in North America, but a fifth destination will soon be added.
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Royal Jordanian modifies North America routes
For contest, historically Royal Jordanian has operated to the following destinations in North America, using Boeing 787-8 aircraft:
- New York (JFK)
- Chicago (ORD)
- Montreal (YUL)
- Detroit (DTW), as a tag flight to the Montreal service
This will be changing going forward, as Royal Jordanian will be launching nonstop flights to Detroit, and the Montreal service will get a tag flight to Toronto (YYZ), rather than a tag flight to Detroit.
Royal Jordanian’s Detroit route goes nonstop
As of May 24, 2022, Royal Jordanian will launch nonstop flights between Amman (AMM) and Detroit (DTW), meaning this flight will no longer route via Montreal (YUL). This flight will operate up to 4x weekly with the following schedule:
RJ271 Amman to Detroit departing 10:15AM arriving 3:35PM
RJ272 Detroit to Amman departing 9:00PM arriving 3:00PM (+1 day)
The 6,055-mile flight is blocked at 12hr20min westbound and 11hr eastbound. Royal Jordanian will continue to use a Boeing 787-8 for this route. For what it’s worth, Royal Jordanian never sold the Montreal to Detroit route as a fifth freedom service, so you couldn’t fly the airline exclusively within North America.
Royal Jordanian adds route to Toronto
As of June 2, 2022, Royal Jordanian will add service to Toronto. Specifically, the carrier’s existing route between Amman (AMM) and Montreal (YUL) will continue to Toronto (YYZ). This flight will operate up to 3x weekly with the following schedule:
RJ269 Amman to Montreal departing 10:45AM arriving 3:05PM
RJ269 Montreal to Toronto departing 4:05PM arriving 5:35PM (+1 day)
RJ270 Toronto to Montreal departing 7:50PM arriving 9:10PM
RJ270 Montreal to Amman departing 10:10PM arriving 3:30PM (+1 day)
The entire journey covers a distance of 5,857 miles in each direction, and is blocked at 13hr50min westbound and 12hr40 eastbound. Royal Jordanian will use a Boeing 787-8 for this route as well.
Bottom line
Royal Jordanian is expanding its route network to North America. While the carrier’s Detroit service used to be operated via Montreal, that route will soon be operated nonstop. On top of that, service will be added to Toronto via Montreal.
While Royal Jordanian doesn’t have that great of an onboard product, this is a convenient option for oneworld travelers headed to the Middle East and beyond…
What do you make of Royal Jordanian’s North America route changes?
I am flying this route (YYZ/YUL/AMM) in the fall. Does anyone know if passengers boarding in Toronto have to deplane in Montreal for the layover? Thanks for any advice!
Montreal Trudeau is positioning itself as a link to the middle east and also has a substantial Arabic community, all positive to enhance a true hub.
That's amazing. The Montreal trip to Detroit is dreadful especially when you can't get it of the plane. Especially in winter the flight gays delayed in Montreal for to the wings freezing. This direct route from Detroit to Amman is amazing
While I agree that the hard-product is dated, the soft product (in particular food) is excellent.
Any word on when Turkish will begin flying to Detroit? It seems like they’ve completely forgotten about it since announcing it.
Detroit is such a dead-end for Oneworld connections I assume it's a demographic demand for that route. I'd rather they put more frequency into ORD.
Michigan has one of the largest and oldest Arab-American communities in the US — about double that in Illinois. Only CA is larger, IIRC. There's also a reasonably large South Asian population.
I’ve only flown them once ORD/AMM but had a great flight. I still prefer what many called ‘dated’ biz class layout vs the ‘in vogue’ coffins.
so do you clear CBSA in Montreal or Toronto? 1 hour doesn't seem like enough time.
Dated biz class, poor service and bad food in all cabins. Really cheap fares make the flight bearable. UGH!!!!
More direct flights between North America and Amman sounds great to me! My college-aged daughter is headed to Amman this summer.
We are currently trying to decide between direct on United from DC to Amman or direct on Royal Jordanian from NYC to Amman. (We live much closer to DC, but the DC to Amman flight looks like it is only direct certain days of the week which adds a minor wrinkle.)
Not sure I understand why that’s a wrinkle. Just pick the best flight for the day you want to fly.
That said, United does not fly to Amman.
United will start direct flights from DC to Amman on May 5, 2022.
United will start flying to Amman on May 5, 2022. Hence the comment about deciding on a flight this summer.
Yes, that's what I'm seeing too!
Since my daughter is traveling for an academic program--an Arabic Summer Intensive--she has to be there by a specific day for orientation, but we will just have her get there a day early. Booked a long-term AirBnB, so all the pieces of her trip are coming together!
As an employee of another carrier at DTW I can add that Royal Jordanian has operated NONSTOP to AMM most every summer. Usually 2X weekly during the 2010’s increasing to 3X weekly in 2019. Winter ops always via Montreal. The only real news for this summer 2022 is the 4X weekly frequency. The most ever.
Brian, I too work at DTW and RJ is getting rid of the Montreal-Detroit completely completely and making DTW service non stop year round and this is huge. It is also to increase service to the U.S. and compete with United’s new service to AMM as it will be direct completion for North American flight to AMM.
Cabotage?
The question is the YUL-YYZ segment for sale. That would make a very interesting hop.
I think cabotage is if you fly between two domestic airports on a foreign carrier connecting in a foreign airport without a long enough time in the connecting airport. I.e. Detroit to Montreal to Chicago on Air Canada with an hour layover on Montreal. If it was allowed for sale, i think YUL-DTW on RJ would have been fine
@David W
What you're referring to is called 6th freedom.
What I'm referring to is called 8th freedom.
Both are cabotage.
"I think cabotage is if you fly between two domestic airports on a foreign carrier connecting in a foreign airport without a long enough time in the connecting airport."
There are 3 forms of cabotage recognized by the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. What you described is known as using a "6th freedom of the air," or indirect cabotage.
There's also standalone cabotage (9th freedom) which is non-domestic carrier offering pax service completely within...
"I think cabotage is if you fly between two domestic airports on a foreign carrier connecting in a foreign airport without a long enough time in the connecting airport."
There are 3 forms of cabotage recognized by the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. What you described is known as using a "6th freedom of the air," or indirect cabotage.
There's also standalone cabotage (9th freedom) which is non-domestic carrier offering pax service completely within a foreign market, and consecutive cabotage (8th freedom) where a carrier flies internationally to one market but continues the same flight service to a domestic destination with carriage rights afterwards.
FYI - until 2010 or so Royal Jordanian served Detroit nonstop from Amman. Memory is a bit hazy as to whether it was nonstop year round or seasonally, but they definitely flew nonstop during several months of the year for years (I took it nonstop in 2010). So this is not new, but rather, a resumption of nonstop service they had operated in the past.
This seems to be a response to Turkish adding service to DTW. When is that supposed to start?