Expanding air services at King Hussein International Airport
Aqaba – An agreement was signed this morning between the Aqaba Development Corporation and the USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project II to cooperate in expanding the number of flights at King Hussein International Airport (KHIA) in Aqaba in support of the increase in accommodation and the development of Aqaba as a tourism destination.
Eng. Imad Fakhoury, Deputy Chairman and CEO of ADC, and Mr. Ibrahim Osta, Chief of Party of the USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project II signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreeing to work closely together to develop a marketing plan for KHIA that will encourage the growth of its air services network. The MoU was signed in witness of H.E. Eng. Husni Abu Gheida, Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, and Mr. Jay Knott, USAID Jordan Mission Director.
"This MoU falls within the scope of ADC’s efforts to execute a comprehensive plan for the Aqaba Special Economic Zone to develop and promote the King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba, and affirm its place on the regional map as one of the significant logistical facilities in ASEZ, and also as part of the multi-modal, high quality transportation system which provides excellent services for Aqaba visitors,” said Eng. Imad Fakhoury. He added, “We will continue our efforts to develop Aqaba as a tourism and investment hub, and as a point of entry. We will also continue to achieve all aims and future plans for transforming Aqaba into a leading center for business and a Red Sea tourist attraction.
He also added:" ADC is committed to transform KHIA into a profitable business unit that operates according to international best practices by smoothly shifting operation and development rights from the public to the private sector and ensuring that the airport's normal operations are not obstructed. The Aqaba Airports Company was established as a transitional step to operating the airport commercially and with a modern setup that can serve the ASEZ, Jordan's ‘Golden Tourism Triangle’ (Aqaba-Petra-Wadi Rum), Jordan and the Levant area.”
“Aqaba is positioning itself as a tourism gateway for Jordan. This includes creation of more than 6,000 new hotel rooms in Aqaba over the next five years. USAID’s assistance to restructure the services at and better market the King Hussein International Airport will ensure that Aqaba’s major tourism attractions will be utilized by facilitating the increase of visitor numbers to meet supply,” said Mr. Jay Knott.
An increase in visitors will not only serve to meet the supply in accommodation and tourism services in Aqaba, but also at surrounding tourism attractions, such as Petra and Wadi Rum.
The KHIA marketing plan, which will be developed by the USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project II with support from ADC, will also highlight the airport’s value proposition, or the incentives that KHIA offers and which make it competitive. It will also identify target markets and target scheduled and charter carriers, and guide development that will ensure technical and knowledge transfer to local counterparts and stakeholders.
In addition, the USAID tourism project will develop a framework for setting up and running a marketing function at KHIA to ensure effective implementation of the plan. This includes how KHIA should organize itself in terms of structures, staffing skills and resources, budgets, capabilities and methodologies to effectively accelerate the development of its international route network serving Aqaba.
ADC will provide information on data and for current and potential tourism and business development projects in and near Aqaba, as well as facilitating links to handling agents, catering companies, fuel suppliers and the Civil Aviation Authority to support KHIA’s value proposition.
The KHIA air services marketing plan and framework will support the airport’s five-year strategy.