While the recent popularity of Iceland as a tourist destination leads many to believe that the Icelandair stopover program is a relatively new idea, it has been around since the 1960s as a way to entice transatlantic travelers from the U.S. to also put some of their tourist dollars toward the country.
In the modern period, national airlines such as Turkish Airways, Tap Air Portugal, Singapore Airlines, and United Arab Emirates-based Etihad Airlines all experimented with their own versions of the “city stopover.”
The stopover lets travelers extend their trip to another destination on the airline with a day or two in the capital city without being charged extra for changing the flight (in some cases, the airlines also partner with local hotels for free or discounted stays).
The latest airline to launch a stopover program is Jordan’s flag carrier Royal Jordanian Airlines.
Developed as a pilot program for Indian travelers flying on the airline to other destinations in Europe or North America, the 24-Hour Premium Stopover Program lets those who have a transfer in Amman of at least eight hours change it into a 24-hour stay.
Passengers receive a free flight change, along with a discounted rate at select partners and one of three curated itineraries in the city.
Royal Jordanian Airlines latest to offer stopover program for travelers
Itinerary choices include a food tour through Amman’s city center, a chauffeured trip to the Dead Sea, or a tour through the city’s historic Citadel and Roman Theatre. For the rest of the time, travelers are able to explore Amman on their own before they head either home or to their next destination.
The program has multiple restrictions, including that the ticket must be purchased from India in a regular non-promotional fare and already include a layover of eight hours for regular travelers and six hours for those in premium fares.
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The stopover offering is designed as a pilot, allowing the airline to gauge interest for potentially rolling the program out in a broader format or to travelers from other countries.
“With the 24-Hour Premium Stopover Program, we are offering Indian travellers an effortless gateway into the heart of Amman,” Royal Jordanian Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Karim Makhlouf said in a statement on the program. “Even a short stay can feel personal, luxurious, and meaningful.”
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The program comes as the country of Jordan faces dropping traveler numbers amid wider instability in the Middle East and the war between Israel and Gaza.
After welcoming a record 6.35 million visitors in 2023, Jordan saw the number of international travelers fall by more than 60% in the second half of 2025, Tourism Review noted, as tourists were put off by military action in neighboring Israel. Local outlets report that at least 32 local hotels have shut down, while the historic city of Petra was even more affected than the capital of Jordan.
Behind larger carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Saudia, Royal Jordanian falls within the top 10 largest airlines in the Middle East. In October 2025, the airline ordered a new Airbus A320neo, bringing its total for this type of aircraft to 12 planes, Ch-aviation reported.
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