Royal Wings will add a second 50-seat Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8-300 at the end of 1997, but is considering the larger -400, or a regional-jet type, for its longer-term plans.
The airline, which is studying a number of route additions and frequency increases, says that, ultimately, its fleet strategy depends on the completion of restructuring of its parent Royal Jordanian, which is expected over the next year.
Royal Wings launched in February 1996, operating its single Dash 8-300 between Amman and Aqaba, and earlier this year added services to Tel Aviv in competition with El Al. The two operators (Arkia flies on behalf of El Al) are each restricted to six frequencies a week, but Royal Wings is seeking an increase.
Ammar Balkar, Royal Wings' director of marketing and sales, is optimistic that it will be permitted to operate seven or eight trips a week by early 1998.
"We need a second Dash 8 to help us increase frequencies, and also to provide back-up," says Balkar. "Our next acquisition will probably be the 70-seat Dash 8-400 in a year or so."
Balkar says that the airline, which is merging with Jordanian business-jet operator Arab Wings, has also considered acquiring a jet-powered airliner.
"Bombardier has demonstrated the Canadair Regional Jet to us, but our fleet strategy will depend on [what comes out of] the restructuring of Royal Jordanian," he says.
Royal Wings is in discussion with the Israelis and Palestinians about flying a twice-daily service to the Gaza Strip airport, as well as boosting its flights to various Egyptian tourist centres and to Larnaca, Cyprus.
Source: Flight International
