Royal Jordanian launches third Libyan route

Royal Jordanian will start operating flights to Misrata starting on Saturday, amid high demand from Libyan passengers for the country\'s medical tourism sector. RJ president/CEO Hussein Dabbas said that the company\'s decision to open a third route between Jordan and Libya was due to high demand from passengers. The airline currently operates flights to Tripoli and Benghazi from its Amman hub. Dabbas said the demand was seen particularly from people patients who take advantage of Jordan\'s medical tourism sector. He added that Libyans prefer to visit Jordan for medical tourism despite competition from European countries. A large number of Libyans are currently being treated in Jordan, he said. According to Dabbas, Royal Jordanian will operate two weekly flights to Misrata on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Royal Jordanian resumed its operations to Tripoli with six weekly flights and to Benghazi with four weekly flights after halting services to both cities for 10 months due to the turmoil seen in Libya last year. The airline operates a total of 12 weekly flights between Jordan and Libya with an option of an increase depending on the demand. Misrata lies on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea 208km east of Tripoli. It has a population of 350,000 according to the 2011 statistics and has agricultural and economical importance.