Raad Mahmoud Al-Tal

During His Majesty King Abdullah’s visit to Queen Alia International Airport, two important projects were launched. The first focuses on logistics and air cargo, and the second on aviation training and aircraft maintenance. These projects aim to make Jordan a stronger regional hub for transport services and aviation, while also creating new job opportunities in line with the country’s Economic Modernization Vision.

The transport and logistics sector in Jordan is growing quickly. Its market value reached about USD 2.36 billion in 2025 and is expected to rise to USD 2.89 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of around 4 per cent. Air transport is one of the fastest-growing parts of the sector, expanding by more than 5 per cent each year. This shows the big potential for Jordan to strengthen its position in regional trade and services.

At Queen Alia Airport, the numbers are also promising. In the first half of 2025, the airport welcomed 4.41 million passengers, the highest ever for a half-year, up 6% from 2024. Cargo, however, fell by 16.5% to 32,000 tons in the same period, showing the need for more capacity. In 2024, the airport handled 75,000 tons of cargo, still below pre-COVID levels but a good base for growth.

The airport has expanded its infrastructure over time. Passenger capacity grew from 3.5 million when first built to 12 million after the 2016 expansion, with a goal of reaching 16 million by 2032. Cargo facilities also grew, from 8,000 square meters to a planned 30,000 square meters by 2026, with new warehouses to improve handling and storage.

The aviation training and maintenance project is also very important. It will help prepare young Jordanians with strong technical skills to compete in global markets. Offering aircraft maintenance services to regional airlines can also bring in new income and make Jordan a trusted provider of aviation services.

These projects also strengthen Jordan’s supply chains. More cargo capacity and better logistics mean faster and more reliable delivery of food, medicine, and essential goods—something very important in a region often affected by political instability. Jordan can also use its central location to connect Gulf markets with the Levant and North Africa.

Competition is tough, with strong hubs in Dubai, Doha, and Istanbul. But Jordan can stand out by focusing on specialized services such as cold storage for medicines and agricultural products, while taking advantage of its competitive costs and skilled workforce. Using modern digital tools for cargo tracking and inventory will also attract global companies.

To ensure success, Jordan needs to build international partnerships with airlines and maintenance firms to transfer skills and technology, focus on specialized services such as cold-chain logistics, accelerate digital solutions to improve efficiency, and invest in training young people with advanced aviation skills. At the same time, it should encourage private investment through tax and financial incentives and expand regional agreements with neighboring countries to boost cargo flows and market access. These two projects are therefore much more than airport expansions; they represent strategic investments in Jordan’s future, opening new doors for growth and positioning the Kingdom as an important regional hub for aviation and logistics. With a clear plan and strong management, Jordan can turn its geographic location into a real engine for sustainable development.

Raad Mahmoud Al-Tal is head of the Economics Department – The University of Jordan