The addition of the Stuttgart route aligns with QAIA operator Airport International Group’s push to strengthen Jordan’s position as a travel hub for leisure and business in the Middle East. Nicolas Deviller, CEO of Airport International Group, said the alliance with Eurowings “supports leisure and business travel between the two nations” while offering affordable and flexible connections.
Eurowings, a virtual-low-cost carrier within the Lufthansa Group, described the launch of the Amman link as a strategic expansion of its medium-haul network. Reinald Frankewitz, the airline’s head of airport and network relations, emphasised that connecting Stuttgart — a major southern German city — with Jordan reflects growing interest in the region’s cultural tourism and business opportunities.
The service proves significant for both markets. For Jordan’s capital, Amman, the direct link to Stuttgart opens access to the Baden-Württemberg region, a key business and industrial centre in Germany. For German travellers, especially from Stuttgart and surrounding areas, the route offers a new gateway to Jordan’s tourism offerings, including heritage sites and the Dead Sea region. Eurowings’ booking page shows one-way fares from around USD 100, signalling competitive pricing aimed at stimulating demand.
QAIA continues to build its reputation for service and expansion. The airport, operated by Airport International Group under a build-operate-transfer model awarded in 2007, already processes over 97 per cent of Jordan’s international passengers and 99 per cent of its cargo throughput. A study by the International Air Transport Association estimated that in 2019 the airport supported 238,000 jobs and generated JOD 2.5 billion in GDP; by 2032 those figures are projected to reach 278,000 jobs and JOD 3.9 billion.
From Eurowings’ side, operating the route adds a medium-haul destination outside its traditional German-and-European footprint. The airline, founded in 1990 and headquartered in Düsseldorf, serves 152 destinations and holds bases in cities including Stuttgart. The addition of Amman extends its network into a Middle Eastern tourism and business corridor that has seen growing interest over the past years.
Analysts interpret the move as part of a broader trend of Middle Eastern airports diversifying their connectivity and airlines seeking growth outside congested intra-European routes. For Jordan, the expansion could help capture higher-yield business traffic in addition to leisure travellers. The launch is also a statement of cooperation between EU and Middle East travel markets amid shifting airline strategies and competition from low-cost carriers.
Despite the positive momentum, challenges remain. The viability of once-weekly flights depends on achieving sufficient load factors and managing operational costs in a market sensitive to fuel prices and regional security conditions. Airline and airport executives will monitor whether the twice-weekly step-up in December hits expected performance thresholds. In addition, competition from other carriers and hubs could constrain growth if Jordan fails to sustain promotional efforts and maintain service quality.
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