Royal Jordanian, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Jordan, has welcomed the first Airbus A321-200P2F aircraft to its fleet, highlighting its strategic goal to strengthen cargo capacity as it meets the growing demand in the region and beyond. 

This is the first step towards Royal Jordanian’s overall expansion strategy of taking its fleet to 41 aircraft over the coming years to solidify its stance in the market. 

Previously delivered to and operated by UK carrier British Midland International (BMI) in 2009 and later acquired by British Airways by means of a merger, the aircraft has now been leased via Ireland-based financial firm UMB Financial Corporation. The aircraft has now been freshly converted out of Singapore’s ST Engineering’s facility, converted through EFW and Airbus JV. 

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JY-RAZ, an Airbus A321-200 is powered by twin V2500s engines, offering a medium-haul operational capacity with 14 pallets and container positions on the main deck and an additional ten in the underbelly, offering a total payload capacity of 28 tonnes at a range of 3,500 Kilometres.

At the beginning of this year, Royal Jordanian crafted new strategies around both passenger and cargo services. As part of this effort, Royal Jordanian has introduced two new Embraer E195-E2 jets to cater for short-haul destinations, with two more jets and four Embraer E190-E2 scheduled to be delivered by Q4 2024. 

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Along with this, the carrier has also placed an order for six Boring 787-9 aircraft and a 20 fleet order from the Airbus A320neo family. This will enhance the service network of the carrier and allow it to reach 60 destinations across the world over the coming years, ushering in the next phase of growth for the airline and supporting Jordan’s thriving economic development. 

Speaking at the unveiling of the new freighter, Samer Majali, Vice Chairman and CEO of Royal Jordanian Airlines, said: “The carrier has developed the air cargo industry through the implementation of several strategies, increasing sales and improving the quality of services provided to the customers in terms of speed, quality, and accuracy. 

“Royal Jordanian aims to enhance the Kingdom’s position as the logistics hub in the region and increase its share of the freight market on a regional and international level, supported by the new cargo terminal that is fully automated, serving all kinds of cargo products.”