Royal Jordanian, while not to the standard of Cathay is continually improving and will within the next three years be a very solid regional carrier with great Customer products and services.

RJ's new Airbus 320 and 321 being delivered from now and throughout 2006 will feature AVOD in both classes of travel. It is my understanding AVOD will be introduced on long-haul A340 aircraft. Inflight Entertainment is the main point where RJ was behind the competition. RJ also recently acquired Dash-8 Q400 aircraft to increase Regional routes, and the airline will have 35 aircraft by the end of 2008 in its 5-year improvement plan.

RJ's Crown Class is fantastic, especially on the Airbus 340 aircraft servicing the USA, Bangkok, Dubai and London (might be a 310 now). The A340 features flat beds with an 83-inch seat pitch and food seems infinite (always offered seconds of mains and dessert, even in a full cabin). Combined with friendly crews and the imminent addition of AVOD in my eyes it will offer the best Business Class product in oneworld. I always use RJ Business Class when travelling to the Middle east on the Bangkok-Amman route and they always outshine British Airways in my eyes.

As for food and service in Economy, three choices of main meal on Amman-Europe flights and on long-haul services in Economy seems pretty good to me. The airline offers a seat pitch of 34-inches on long haul flights which is better than what can be said for some other oneworld airlines.

Two things let RJ down - Amman Airport and their lounges in the airport. Amman Airport is bad, but I wouldn't call it a dump. I think it's reached its capacity especially at peak times and a new terminal needs to be built with a new Crown Class Lounge facility. Remodelling of the terminals has not helped either. I've heard rumour that a new terminal is planned but not officially announced. My suggestion is just to demolish the current airport and move it 1km down the road.

RJ is continually improving and in my opinion will prove to be a valuble addition to oneworld providing the missing Middle Eastern link.