Marka International (Amman Civil) Airport — Amman, Jordan

Before Queen Alia International Airport opened south of the city in 1983, Marka served as Amman's principal airport and the main gateway to Jordan, a role it held for decades after the country's independence. Located within Amman Governorate itself, closer to the city center than its larger successor, the field sits 2,555 feet above sea level on the same plateau that gives much of Jordan its mild climate despite the surrounding desert. A single runway now handles a reduced schedule focused on domestic routes, military aviation, and general aviation traffic, since nearly all international scheduled service shifted to Queen Alia decades ago. Royal Jordanian and the Royal Jordanian Air Force both maintain a presence at the field, reflecting its continued institutional importance even after losing its role as the country's primary civilian gateway. Amman itself has grown enormously since Marka's heyday, expanding across the surrounding hills as the city absorbed waves of refugees from multiple regional conflicts over the decades. For travelers unfamiliar with Jordan's airport layout, the existence of two Amman-area airports with different codes often causes confusion when booking. ADJ today functions as a secondary, largely domestic-facing complement to its much busier neighbor.