Key Takeaways
• Royal Jordanian resumed direct Amman–Aleppo flights on May 6, 2025, after a 14-year break.
• Flights operate three times weekly, departing Amman at 5:15 AM and Aleppo at 7:45 AM.
• New fleet upgrades include Embraer jets for regional routes and improved connections for travelers, immigrants, and businesses.
After almost fourteen years of waiting, Royal Jordanian has resumed direct flights between Amman and Aleppo, marking a new chapter for air travel and immigration in the Middle East. The first flight made its journey on May 6, 2025, touching down at Aleppo International Airport in Syria 🇸🇾. This direct flight reconnects two important cities after a long break caused by the conflict that started in Syria 🇸🇾 in 2011. For those hoping to travel, do business, or reunite with family between the two countries, this is an important change. It also sends a strong signal about renewed links and hopes for stability in the region.
Royal Jordanian’s decision to open direct flights to Aleppo is more than just a business move. It has real effects on travelers, families, businesses, and immigration patterns. The move stands out, especially as it is one of the first direct air links to northern Syria 🇸🇾 since the outbreak of war. Let’s take a detailed look into what this means for travelers, immigrants, and the broader Middle East region.
A Closer Look at the Schedule
Today, Royal Jordanian runs direct flights between Amman and Aleppo three times each week. The flights take off on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. They leave Amman at 5:15 AM local time and reach Aleppo by 6:45 AM. For the return trip, planes depart Aleppo at 7:45 AM and arrive in Amman at 9:15 AM.
By offering these direct flights, Royal Jordanian makes travel between the two cities faster and more reliable. Prior to this, those wishing to go to Aleppo from Amman had to endure long overland journeys that were often unsafe or uncertain, and air travel required time-consuming layovers and route changes. Now, with a direct link, families can reunite more easily, workers can travel quickly, and businesses can operate more smoothly across borders.
Why This Route Matters
Reopening direct flights to Aleppo means more than convenience. It is a lifeline for many people whose lives and plans were disrupted by years of conflict. For over a decade, travel to and from Aleppo was difficult, with shifting borders, road closures, and unpredictable safety conditions. Now, the direct flights represent a step towards more stable mobility for Syrians and Jordanians, making it easier for both regular travelers and people seeking new lives through immigration, work, or study.
Aleppo is not just any city—it is Syria 🇸🇾’s second-largest and was known as a bustling trade and cultural hub before the conflict. The new direct flights make Aleppo part of Royal Jordanian’s large international network of over 45 destinations in places such as Europe, North America, the Middle East, and the Gulf. This opens the city up to the world again, giving residents access to wider opportunities to travel, conduct business, and even immigrate if needed by connecting through Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport.
For anyone planning to move, work, or study, having reliable air connections is essential. Whether it’s students looking to start new programs abroad, businesspeople hoping to open or restore trade links, or families seeking to visit each other, this connection changes what is possible.
The Strategy Behind the Move
Royal Jordanian’s decision is not just about filling airplane seats; it’s also about supporting the slow recovery of Syria 🇸🇾 as it rebuilds after years of conflict. In 2011, when fighting began, most airlines—including Royal Jordanian—stopped flying to Syria 🇸🇾 for safety reasons. Direct flights to Aleppo ended, and daily life changed completely for those who depended on fast cross-border travel.
Now, Royal Jordanian is among the first major airlines to restore a direct route to northern Syria 🇸🇾. As reported by VisaVerge.com, this puts the airline in a leading spot for rebuilding travel and business ties. The company has already shown its intentions by earlier restarting daily flights to Damascus, Syria’s 🇸🇾 capital, in early 2025. These steps make Amman’s airport a growing regional hub.
Samer Majali, the airline’s CEO, said that opening up these air routes will aid Syria 🇸🇾’s ongoing rebuild by making it easier for people and goods to move in and out of the country. The direct flights will particularly help business travelers and those bringing humanitarian aid, while supporting Syrians who need to reach global markets through Amman.
What This Means for Immigration
When air routes open, immigration becomes more manageable. For the past 14 years, the lack of regular air travel made it tough for Syrians to leave the country safely or for those in the diaspora to return home for visits. People had to rely on rare flights, often through third countries, or make risky road journeys.
Now, with three direct flights per week, those looking to immigrate, visit family, or travel for work or education have a new, direct choice. For Syrians hoping to apply for visas to Canada 🇨🇦, the United States 🇺🇸, Europe, or other countries, the connection with Amman is key. Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport is a major hub for connecting flights to the rest of the world. For many, this means a shorter, safer route—a major improvement for their well-being.
Travelers can find up-to-date information about available flights or booking requirements on the official Royal Jordanian website.
For families who were separated, the new direct flights give hope of seeing loved ones again. For those working with humanitarian agencies or international groups, a stable flight link means smoother movement for staff and aid shipments.
Boost to Trade and the Economy
Airlines connect more than just people—they move goods and ideas, too. Aleppo has long been an important trade city, known for its markets and manufacturing before the war. The new direct flights allow merchants, businesspeople, and companies to send goods quickly between Aleppo and international markets.
Having Aleppo reconnected to Royal Jordanian’s global network could help restart trade between Syria 🇸🇾 and other countries by making it faster and cheaper to send samples, hold face-to-face meetings, or check on factories and shipments. The airline’s hub-and-spoke system through Amman also helps Syrian businesses reach places that still do not have direct air links with Syria 🇸🇾.
Fleet Modernization Brings Better Service
Royal Jordanian has not just dusted off old planes for this new route. The airline is upgrading its fleet to give passengers a smoother, safer, and more comfortable flight. For the Aleppo flights, Royal Jordanian recently bought five new Embraer jets suited for short routes like Amman–Aleppo. For medium-haul trips, the airline plans to bring in new Airbus A320neo planes that have Wi-Fi, so business people and students can stay connected even while flying. For longer international routes, new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners are in the pipeline. These changes show that Royal Jordanian is investing not just in Aleppo, but in its whole network, to better serve travelers with modern planes and better features.
Preparations Before the First Flight
Bringing back direct flights to Aleppo wasn’t a simple flip of a switch. Before starting this regular service, Royal Jordanian carried out a trial flight in March to test the airport in Aleppo. They checked the airport’s technical systems, security procedures, and readiness to handle international travelers. This trial flight was an important step to make sure safety and service standards were met, both for travelers and for the staff.
Growing the Middle East’s Regional Travel Network
What happens in Aleppo can affect travel patterns throughout the region. When an international airline like Royal Jordanian resumes flights to a city after many years, it often leads other airlines to consider reopening their own routes. With Aleppo now back on the map, more travelers from across the Middle East or the wider world can reach northern Syria 🇸🇾 with fewer connections, less waiting, and lower costs. The direct flights may even encourage other airlines or state carriers to restart their own operations to Aleppo, strengthening links and helping Syrians rebuild their links with the world.
Wider Regional and Social Impacts
Aleppo’s direct flights with Amman matter for more than just ticket buyers. These flights support families trying to reunite, students and workers needing safe travel, business owners seeking new ventures, and people in the immigration process preparing for life transitions.
- For immigrants: It’s now safer and easier to reach a main airport with global connections, supporting journeys to new countries or visits back home.
- For humanitarians: Reliable flights improve the movement of aid workers and the delivery of needed supplies.
- For the local economy: Trade and investment become more attractive when transport is stable, fast, and safe.
- For governments: Steps like this can lead to better diplomatic ties and improved cooperation on issues like security and migration management.
The return of commercial flights also sends a message about growing confidence in the region’s recovery. While many problems remain, especially as rebuilding continues, the ability to run regular flights is a sign that daily life is slowly improving. For students hoping to study abroad or bring skills home, for families splintered by war, and for people looking for a new start through immigration, this simple flight connection can make all the difference.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Travelers and Immigrants?
If you want to book a direct flight between Amman and Aleppo, Royal Jordanian now provides an easy option three times a week. For those needing to apply for visas, find out about transit options, or secure official documents, the re-opening of Aleppo’s airport is an important new link.
Travelers are encouraged to double-check required travel documents before booking, since rules can change quickly in the Middle East. Royal Jordanian’s own official travel page gives the latest guidance on booking, luggage, and health information. For information about international travel documents and entry requirements for Jordan 🇯🇴, travelers can always refer to the Jordanian Ministry of Interior.
Not only does the Aleppo route open new doors for personal travel, but it also provides a way to enter broader immigration pathways, whether through study abroad, permanent relocation, or family reunification. While direct flights do not replace the need for proper immigration documents, they make the process more accessible, faster, and often safer. Connecting through Amman’s major airport gives travelers more access to embassies, visa centers, and support services as well.
Summing Up: Connection Restored, Possibilities Expanded
Royal Jordanian’s return to Aleppo, after a long 14-year break, is not just a milestone in aviation—it’s a practical boost for mobility, recovery, and hope in the region. Families can look forward to reunions, businesses have a renewed lifeline, and the city of Aleppo begins its slow restoration of international links. For immigrants, students, and workers, the route marks a stronger bridge between Syria 🇸🇾 and the outside world, all thanks to regular, reliable direct flights. What started as an airline decision has quickly become an opening for countless journeys, new opportunities, and restored connections for people on both sides of the border.
Learn Today
Direct flight → A nonstop airline route between two cities with no layovers or transfers, enabling faster, more convenient travel.
Diaspora → Communities of people who live outside their country of origin, often due to conflict, migration, or work.
Queen Alia International Airport → Jordan’s main international airport in Amman; now a key hub for flights connecting the region.
Hub-and-spoke system → An airline network model where flights connect through a central hub, simplifying transit to many destinations.
Embraer jet → A modern regional aircraft made by Embraer, used by airlines for short-haul routes like Amman–Aleppo.
This Article in a Nutshell
Royal Jordanian’s resumption of direct flights between Amman and Aleppo after 14 years is a lifeline. This move offers quick, safe travel, boosts family reunification, supports migration, and rebuilds regional commerce. Modern jets and three weekly flights open new opportunities for Syrians, Jordanians, and a recovering Middle East business environment.
— By VisaVerge.com
