Royal Jordanian, the national airline of Jordan, celebrates its 51st anniversary today (December 15).

Acting president and CEO Captain Haitham Misto expressed gratefulness for the Hashemite support the company has been receiving since its inception in 1964 by His Majesty King Hussein. This royal backing has played a key role in the progress witnessed by the airline and boosted its competitiveness at regional and international levels.

“Over RJ’s five-decade history, the airline has attained numerous achievements, most prominent among which was modernising the fleet and upgrading the in-flight and ground services. It also strived to offer the latest, and best, in air transport industry services — commercial, IT, engineering and maintenance — attaining international recognition after becoming a member of oneworld alliance in 2007, joining big names in the airline business,” Captain Misto said.

Since its inception, revenues have increased from JD1 million ($1.4 million) at the end of 1964 to this year's expected JD749 million ($1.05 billion).

The number of RJ employees have also increased from 250 in 1964 to 4,700 today.

Misto stressed that RJ has played a pioneering role in the air transport industry, locally and regionally, and has become a hub for training and a source of manpower for many local, Arab and international carriers.

He said that RJ will step into 2015 operating a new, advanced generation of the 787s as well as modern Airbus and Embraer aircraft.

“Introducing the 787 to the fleet is in line with the strategic plan to modernise the long-haul fleet. The assimilation of these aircraft is associated with the phasing out of the Airbus 340 and part of the Airbus 330 aircraft. Royal Jordanian will introduce the rest of the ordered new Dreamliners in 2016 and the following few years, in order to meet its operational needs,” Captain Misto said. – TradeArabia News Service