The FINANCIAL — On June 1, Royal Jordanian will start operating a direct, regular, twice-weekly service between Amman and the Libyan city of Benghazi.
It thus puts the destination back on its route network after around 30 years of suspended service. Benghazi was among the first Arab cities RJ began serving after its establishment in the 1960s.
"Operating flights to Benghazi comes in light of the growing traffic of Jordanian and Libyan citizens between the two countries. There is remarkable and active traffic of businessmen and students, and many Libyans come to Amman to get medical treatment," Royal Jordanian reports.
Royal Jordanian responded to this active travel between Jordan and Libya by also increasing the frequency of flights between Amman and Tripoli from three to four weekly, starting April 1.
Benghazi will be the second new destination RJ adds to its network this year; Brussels is the first one, and the airline will also resume its flights there as of April 1. Along with these two destinations, RJ directly operates to 58 destinations spread on four continents, and more than 700 destinations with one stop served by oneworld's airline members, of which RJ is part.
The flight takes off from Amman on Mondays and Fridays at 12 noon and arrives in Benghazi at 2:05 pm local time. It takes off from Benghazi at 3:05 pm and arrives in Amman at 6:45 pm local time.
Benghazi lies in northeastern Libya, on a gulf of the Mediterranean Sea. It has 1.5 million inhabitants and is the second largest city in Libya after Tripoli, the Libyan capital, which lies 1,000 km west from Benghazi.
Important industries include oil refining, cement manufacturing, tanning, sponge and tuna fishing, and food processing such as dates and olives.
Benghazi airport lies 32 km to the east of the city, and connects the city with some foreign cities, as well as with major cities in Libya.
