Jordan Times
Monday, January 26, 1998
Civil aviation delegation to Israel to discuss air
transport agreement
AMMAN (J.T.) - A delegation led by Captain Jasser Ziyad, director
general of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Sunday left for
Tel Aviv on an official two-day visit to revise an air transport
agreement between Israel and Jordan.
In a statement before departure, Capt. Ziyad said that under the
terms of the agreement, the two sides should revise the
agreement's provisions every six months to accommodate
developments in air transport.
The last revision by the two sides resulted in increasing the
number of flights between Israel and Jordan by 60 per cent,
according to Capt. Ziyad.
He expressed hope that the two sides would reach agreement on
increasing the number of flights between Amman and Tel Aviv from
six to 10 per week and removing restrictions imposed by the
Israeli authorities on flights between Haifa and Amman so that
the number of flights can be increased between the two
destinations. Flights are currently conducted between Amman and
Haifa via the Marka Airport and the Queen Alia International
Airport.
Capt. Ziyad said he will also discuss lifting restrictions on
occupancy rates with the Israeli authorities with the hope of
doubling it to 450 per week.
Royal Wings, a subsidiary of Royal Jordanian (RJ), the national
air carrier, has been making the flights between Amman and Tel
Aviv.
But now having received a second 50-seat passenger plane, Royal
Wings can boost its flights not only to Israel, but other
destinations in the region, Royal Wings sources have said.
According to Capt. Ziyad, his discussion with the Israelis will
include a reassessment of the joint Jordanian-Israeli operation
of the Aqaba Airport, which started on a trial basis last
November and ends on March 11, 1998. He said further steps
regarding joint operation will be taken in the light of the
assessment.
The Jordanian delegation also includes Royal Wings Director Ahed
Quntar, as well as three other officials.