Tall al-’Umayri is an archaeological dig site in western Jordan that dates from the Early Bronze Age (3200–2100 BCE) to the Hellenistic period (323–30 BCE). It is located near the modern capital of Amman and is significant for its well-preserved evidence of a temple, as well as archaeological evidence of a network of small farms believed to have produced wine. Excavations were proceeding as of 2014.
29-514: The site sits atop a low ridge between the Queen Alia Airport highway and Amman National Park, approximately 2,900 feet above sea level. While the location offers few natural defenses, it was probably selected to take advantage of the natural spring that flowed as recently as the 1930s according to local historian Raouf Abujaber. It appears that this would have been the only reliable water source for travelers between Amman and Madaba . The site
58-726: A 25-year Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) concession agreement. The concession was awarded to AIG in 2007 by the Government of Jordan after an open international tender that was overseen by the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank acting as an advisor to the Government. AIG's shareholders are French , Persian Gulf , and Palestinian partners. As of 2018, 51% of the shares are owned by Aéroports de Paris (ADP). The other shareholders are Meridiam Eastern Europe Investments (32%), Mena Airport Holding Ltd. (funded by
87-411: A regional transit hub for leisure and business travel. The aim is to boost its capacity to 16 million passengers annually by the end of the concession time frame in 2032. Following the airport expansion, Emirates operated a one-off Airbus A380 service to Amman , celebrating 30 years of Emirates' operation to Jordan. The superjumbo (registration A6-EUC) operated EK901/EK902 on 25 September 2016, and it
116-572: A stamp with the word "'Ammon" written in Aramaic persist until approximately 400 BCE, well into the Persian Era . After a two-centuries without occupation, the site apparently persisted as a farmstead built around the spring from 200 BCE to 135 CE. A tomb with a Greek inscription and a plastered ritual pool from the time period indicate connections to other Mediterranean cultures. After 350 CE, numerous pottery fragments, sherds, and wall fragments indicate it
145-541: Is connected to Amman by Sariyah shuttle buses that ply back and forth between Amman and the airport every 30 minutes. An airport taxi service is also available around the clock. Car rental is also available at the airport. QAIA's parking facilities are divided into three areas: A shuttle bus is available to transport passengers between the terminal and car park. [REDACTED] Media related to Queen Alia International Airport at Wikimedia Commons Amman Civil Airport Too Many Requests If you report this error to
174-488: The COVID-19 pandemic . However, several Royal Jordanian flights were commissioned to return Jordanian citizens, especially students, back to Jordan during the pandemic if they desired. On 8 September 2020, the airport was reopened for commercial flights but was subject to strict health and safety regulations. On 1 March 2022, all travel restrictions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic were subsequently lifted. QAIA's new design
203-562: The IDB ; 12.75%), and Edgo (4.75%). Through the BOT public-private partnership framework, the Government retains ownership of the airport and receives 54.47% of the airport's gross revenues for the first six years and 54.64% of the gross revenues for the remaining 19 years of the agreement's 25-year term. As part of its public-private partnership with the Government of Jordan , AIG closely collaborates with
232-504: The Government on a day-to-day basis on all issues related to the airport. A dedicated project management unit within the Jordanian Ministry of Transport oversees the project for the Government. The Ministry of Transport receives complete annual financial statements and quarterly financial and operational reports. The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Amman-Queen Alia Airport: In 2023, QAIA became
261-544: The Middle East, and North Africa" in Emerging Partnerships . The winning PPPs, selected from among projects nominated by governments, industry, NGOs, academia and other organizations following a global call for submissions, demonstrated best practices for governments working with the private sector to provide a wide range of public services and to spur economic development in their countries. In June 2013, QAIA became
290-573: The Middle East. QAIA came in at 13th place from amongst 81 airports worldwide within the group of airports serving 5-15 million passengers and recorded an Overall Satisfaction Score of 4.42 out of a possible 5.0, an improvement compared to its 4.23 score in Q4 2013. Regarding luggage delivery speed, QAIA earned a 4.13 score, up from 3.99 during the previous quarter. QAIA received two 2013 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards in February 2014, ranking at first place in
319-507: The burned ruins of the house. Occupation by a distinct culture began again around 1050 BCE, as inferred from a change in pottery style. The evidence suggests a fairly sparse population for the next four centuries. However, in approximately 600 BCE, a major administrative complex was built at 'Umayri, apparently under the patronage of the Ammonite king Ba'alyasha' or Baalis , whose name was found on several seals from this stratum. Artifacts bearing
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#1732858442456348-546: The capital city of Jordan , as well as the largest city in the nation. It is the largest airport in the country, named after Queen Alia , who died in a helicopter crash in 1977. The airport is home to the country's national flag carrier, Royal Jordanian Airlines , and serves as a significant hub for Jordan Aviation . A new terminal was opened in March 2013 to replace the airport's older two passenger terminals and one cargo terminal. The three original terminals were made obsolete once
377-610: The category of "Best Improvement by Region: Middle East" and 5th in the category of "Best Airport by Region: Middle East." The ASQ Awards results were based on the ASQ Survey, an international airport passenger satisfaction benchmark program. In the 2014 version of the awards, QAIA again received the "Best Improvement In the Middle East region" award. In March 2013, QAIA was named one of the world's top 40 public–private partnership PPP projects, receiving Gold recognition as "Best Emerging Market Infrastructure Project for Europe, Central Asia,
406-409: The construction of the new terminal. The new terminal accommodates rising annual passenger traffic, taking the original airport capacity from 3.5 million passengers per year to 7.5 million. Inaugurated by King Abdullah II on 14 March 2013, the new airport was launched officially following an overnight operational transfer which coincided the airport's 30th anniversary. The last flight departed from
435-417: The continual surge in passenger traffic at the time, AIG was also placed in charge of constructing a new terminal, one which not only would expand the airport's then insufficient annual capacity of 3.5 million passengers, but that would also introduce a "unique travel experience" to help advance QAIA's position as a niche transit hub in the region. Accordingly, AIG invested an estimated $ 750 million USD in
464-558: The first airport in the Middle East to achieve Level 3 of the Airport Customer Experience Accreditation (ACEA). According to a statement from Airport International Group (AIG), QAIA also became one of eight airports in the Middle East and one of sixty one airports all around the world to have received ACEA. The global Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Survey for Q1 2014 ranked QAIA first place in 18 different service and facility categories from ten airports across
493-410: The kingdom's primary international gateway and a stop-over for international airlines in the Middle East. By 2012, QAIA was serving on average more than 6 million passengers and 40 airlines from around the world. In 2007, the Government of Jordan selected Airport International Group (AIG) through an open tender to operate, rehabilitate and manage QAIA under a 25-year concession agreement. In response to
522-439: The new terminal officially began operations. Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) was built in 1983 in response to the growing airport traffic needs that Amman Civil Airport could not accommodate. At the time, passenger traffic was increasing at a rate above the international average, recording 25–30% growth per annum and placing considerable pressure on airport facilities despite continuous expansion and development. In 1981,
551-547: The number of arriving, departing, and transit passengers exceeded 2.3 million, while cargo traffic reached 62,000 tonnes and aircraft traffic topped 27,000 movements. The Jordanian Ministry of Transport undertook the building of a new international airport with sufficient capacity to cope with demand in the foreseeable future. QAIA was built at an estimated total cost of JOD 84 million (~120 million USD as of January 2023) . Passenger facilities were designed to serve 3.5 million passengers per year. QAIA has since grown to become
580-491: The old terminal at 10:05 pm on 20 March 2013, upon which all operations were shifted to the new terminal, where its first flight departed at 2:30 am on 21 March 2013. On 20 January 2014, AIG launched the second phase of QAIA's expansion, valued at a total cost of over $ 100 million USD . In 2016, the second expansion phase, costing $ 1 billion, was completed raising QAIA's annual passenger traffic capacity to 12 million, supporting Jordan 's national tourism strategy to serve as
609-496: The second airport in the Middle East to achieve the "Mapping" level of the Airport Carbon Accreditation program run by Airports Council International Europe . The 'Mapping' level recognizes the airport's commitment to determining its carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emission sources at its operational boundary, as well as to engaging a third party to verify the airport's annual carbon footprint. The airport
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#1732858442456638-475: The site has been occupied for all but 1,200 years since the early Bronze Age (c. 3200 BCE) to the present, with a few flints and cherts from even earlier periods. A dolmen from this earliest period contains disarticulated skeletons from at least 20 people, along with several associated structures and pottery fragments. This phase of occupation peaked approximately 2500 BCE based on the ruins of several houses and streets, before being abandoned by 2200 BCE. The site
667-453: Was a temple. It also contained considerable areas full of domestic artifacts more in keeping with a palatial residence. Three substantial four room structures , typical of the early Iron Age, though slightly predating them (c. 1200 BCE), were built about a century later. These appear to have met a violent end: in addition to numerous kitchen and farmyard implements, the charred skeletons of four people and discarded weaponry were discovered within
696-584: Was at least transiently occupied during the Byzantine and Islamic periods, and possibly by the Bedouin into the 20th century. Queen Alia International Airport Queen Alia International Airport ( IATA : AMM , ICAO : OJAI ) ( Arabic : مطار الملكة علياء الدولي , romanized : Maṭār al-Malika ʿAlyāʾ ad-Dawaliyy ) is an international airport located in Zizya, 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Amman ,
725-539: Was created by architects Foster + Partners . The roof was inspired by Bedouin tents and is composed of 127 concrete domes, each weighing up to 600 metric tonnes. The airport has three lounges, one operated by Royal Jordanian for business and first-class passengers, one operated by Airport Hotel next to the North Concourse, and the last exclusively run by telecom operator Zain Jordan for its VIP customers. Retail space
754-497: Was expanded by 25% at the new terminal, covering more than 6,000 square metres (65,000 sq ft). The terminal houses several international food and beverage venues. In addition to restaurants and supermarkets, the terminal also includes a nuts roastery, a large Duty-Free area, a children's play area, shopping outlets, and internet connectivity. Airport International Group (AIG) is a French company formed to rehabilitate, expand, and operate Queen Alia International Airport under
783-613: Was first noted by Charles Warren in 1867, but was apparently not visited again by archaeologists until the Hisban regional survey in 1976. It has been the subject of several large-scale explorations, beginning in 1984 under the Madaba Plains Project, which by 2010 had uncovered over 4,000 artifacts and 50,000 pieces of pottery. Though the site appears to have never had more than a few dozen buildings, archaeological artifacts have been recovered from 21 different strata. This indicates that
812-530: Was recolonized and fortified with a 5-meter-deep moat topped by a 5-meter-tall rampart around 1600 BCE, but there is no clear evidence it was occupied between 1550 and 1350 BCE. A large, well-preserved, five-room, two-story structure built in the Late Bronze Age (c. 1300 BCE) has been the subject of some debate among archaeologists. It contained hundreds of unburnt animal bones, a cult wall built around 5 natural standing stones, and an Asherah figurine suggesting it
841-547: Was the first-ever A380 service to the Levant . Since then, Emirates has continued daily A380 service to Amman through EK903/EK904. On 14 March 2020, it was announced by the Jordanian Ministry of Health that "...all flights to and from the Kingdom will be suspended from Tuesday, 17 March 2020, until further notice, excluding commercial freight traffic." The airport had been closed to passenger traffic since 17 March 2020 in response to
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