Queen Alia International Airport handled more than 600,000 passengers in May, signalling a marked rebound in travel activity at Jordan’s main international gateway after a volatile spring for regional aviation.Airport International Group, the Jordanian company operating the Amman airport, said passenger traffic reached 605,181 during the month, up 46.9 per cent from April. The figure remained 17.9 per cent below May 2025, showing that the recovery is gaining pace but has not fully restored last year’s levels.
The airport also recorded 5,348 aircraft movements in May, a 35.3 per cent increase from April, while cargo volumes rose 32.6 per cent month on month to 5,841 tonnes. Compared with the same month last year, aircraft movements were down 18.1 per cent and cargo traffic fell 25.3 per cent, underscoring the continuing pressure on aviation and logistics flows linked to regional uncertainty.
The May figures mark a clear improvement from April, when Queen Alia International Airport handled 411,865 passengers, 3,953 aircraft movements and 4,114 tonnes of cargo. April traffic had already shown a month-on-month recovery from March, but remained nearly half below the level recorded a year earlier. The sharper improvement in May suggests airlines and passengers are gradually restoring schedules and travel plans after disruptions earlier in the year.
Nicolas Deviller, chief executive of Airport International Group, described the May rebound in passenger and aircraft activity as a positive sign for Jordan’s aviation sector. He said the airport’s priority remained maintaining efficient operations and sustaining Queen Alia’s position as the country’s main gateway while supporting economic activity and development.
The latest data comes after a difficult first quarter for the airport. Passenger traffic in the first three months of 2026 stood at 1,978,702, down 7.4 per cent from the same period in 2025. Aircraft movements fell 3.6 per cent to 16,895, while cargo volumes declined 26.8 per cent to 14,501 tonnes. March proved especially weak, with passenger traffic at 370,308, reflecting a steep monthly fall from February.
The contrast with last year is significant. Queen Alia International Airport closed 2025 with 9,789,851 passengers, an annual increase of 11.27 per cent, supported by stronger regional and European routes, resilient tourism demand and peak summer flows. Aircraft movements reached 80,565 during the year, up 9.81 per cent, while cargo volumes stood at 69,770 tonnes, down 7.53 per cent.
May 2025 was also a strong base for comparison. The airport handled 736,709 passengers that month, alongside 6,532 aircraft movements and 6,217 tonnes of cargo. That makes the May 2026 recovery notable for its sequential improvement, but still short of the momentum seen before regional tensions disrupted travel patterns.
Queen Alia International Airport remains central to Jordan’s tourism, trade and air-connectivity strategy. Located south of Amman, it serves as the main hub for Royal Jordanian and the country’s principal point of entry for business travellers, tourists, expatriates and transit passengers. Its performance is closely tied to hotel occupancy, inbound tourism receipts, cargo handling and wider service-sector activity.
The rebound also comes as the wider aviation industry across the Middle East faces uneven operating conditions. Major Gulf hubs have continued expanding capacity and long-haul networks, while airports closer to regional flashpoints have had to manage schedule disruptions, airspace restrictions, insurance costs and changing passenger sentiment. For Jordan, restoring stable traffic through Queen Alia is important not only for airlines but also for tour operators, freight handlers, airport retailers and ground transport providers.
Airport International Group’s challenge is to build on the May improvement while preserving service quality during the busier summer travel period. Passenger flows typically strengthen in June, July and August as expatriates return, families travel during school holidays and regional tourism demand rises. The airport recorded its highest-ever monthly traffic in August 2025, when passenger numbers exceeded 1.08 million, illustrating the scale of demand that can return when conditions stabilise.
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