Jordan’s national carrier carried some 550,000 passengers during the first three months of the year, a 17 per cent improvement on the equivalent period in 2007.

Seat loads rose 17 per cent year-on-year, and 16 per cent more cargo was transported. Growth also rose by 17 per cent, in terms of the number of flights flown, flying hours and aircraft mileage.

The company displayed particularly strong figures for March - traditionally a fallow period for airlines - with a 24 per cent increase in passengers carried, to 199,000 from 160,000 last year.