Royal Jordanian Airlines and Air Arabia expanding fleets; Kenya Airways slumps

Royal Jordanian Airlines (+2.9%) was one of the few carriers to gain on Thursday (18-Mar-2010). President and CEO, Hussein Dabbas, stated during trading the carrier is scheduled to receive its first group of B787s in Oct-2013. The carrier ordered 11 B787s in 2006 and the current delivery schedule represents a delay from the initial schedule commencing in early 2011. Owing to the delay, Royal Jordanian is investing USD12 million in the upgrade of four A340 aircraft, while the carrier has added a 75-seat Embraer to its fleet. In addition, the carrier plans to take delivery of two A330s to service Southeast Asia and the Amman-London sector. Royal Jordanian's current fleet of 29 aircraft includes 12 Airbus' and seven Embraers. On network, the carrier plans to launch four times weekly Amman-Madina Munawwarah service and resume Kuala Lumpur service in May-2010.