Amman · OJAI
AMMQueen Alia International Airport · Levant
Queen Alia is Jordan's primary international gateway and the all-weather alternate for the entire Levant — the only Jordanian field with CAT II ILS and full wide-body capability.
OJAI handles the bulk of inbound Jordan trips that involve large-cabin aircraft, wide-body charter, or operations during the winter snow window when Marka closes. LFS staffs a desk because the GA terminal sits on the opposite side of the field from the commercial terminal and stand assignment between Royal Jordanian Handling and Menzies is not always intuitive — operators routinely taxi to the wrong terminal without local routing.
Operations notes
OJAI runs two parallel runways (08L/26R and 08R/26L) in segregated mode during peak. GA parks at the dedicated GA terminal on the south side with eight wide-body stands. Approaches are ILS CAT I (08L/26R) and CAT II (08R/26L); CAT II availability makes OJAI the default winter recovery field for the Levant.
Field elevation (2,395 ft) drives summer hot-and-high performance — RWY 26R is the long preferred-direction for large-cabin departures. LFS includes performance delta in the pre-departure brief from May through September.
Jordan e-Visa applies. Customs at the GA terminal is faster than the commercial terminal — sub-10-minute crew clearance is routine.
No formal slot regime. Stand booking against operator history; LFS confirms with Royal Jordanian Handling or Menzies at least 24 hours prior. Peak congestion (06:00–09:00 LT, 19:00–23:00 LT) is absorbed without queue.
Jordan e-Visa supports most nationalities; visa-on-arrival as backstop. GA terminal crew clearance averages 6–8 minutes; passenger clearance 12–15 minutes. Cabotage non-restrictive for non-revenue.
Jet A-1 supplied by JPRC via hydrant on GA stands. Pricing matches OJAM with throughput fee adjustment. LFS releases fuel within 45 minutes of upload request for prepaid uploads.
Mövenpick Dead Sea (40 minutes) and Amman hotels (35–45 minutes by SUV) are the standard crew options. LFS books transit-side crew rest at Crowne Plaza Queen Alia airport hotel for sub-8-hour layovers.
Weather & seasonal factors
Mediterranean continental climate. Hot, dry summer (Jun–Sep peaks 40°C). Winter snow events (Dec–Feb) can drop ceiling and RVR; CAT II ILS on RWY 08R/26R supports recovery to 300 ft DA. OJAI typically stays open when Marka closes.
Permits & lead times
- Landing: CARC Jordan landing permit. LFS clears 6 hours for repeat operators.
- Overflight: Amman FIR — CARC block clearance.
- Lead time: 24 hours; 4 hours AOG.
Recommended alternates
- OJAMMarka — 25 nm north, downtown proximity, 7,400 ft runway
- OJAQAqaba — 175 nm south, AOE, Red Sea coast, all-weather
- OLBABeirut — 110 nm northwest, AOE, 24/7
Partners on station
Primary desk: LFS QAIA (own desk) — Royal Jordanian Handling
Amman (OJAI) — frequently asked
When should I file into OJAI instead of OJAM?
Large-cabin aircraft, wide-body charter, winter weather periods, or any operation requiring CAT II ILS.
How does the dual-handler regime work?
Royal Jordanian Handling and Menzies operate parallel desks. LFS books one and acts as single point of contact regardless of stand allocation.
Is the GA terminal far from the commercial terminal?
Yes — opposite sides of the field. LFS routes operators directly; ground transit between terminals takes 10–15 minutes by airside vehicle.
Does winter snow close OJAI?
Rarely — typically 1–2 closure days per season vs. 5–8 for OJAM. CAT II ILS keeps OJAI open through most events.
LFS handles OJAI 24/7.
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