Rabat – 9,244,092 people have flown in or through Morocco during the first six months of 2017, an 11.51 percent increase on the same period last year, with the six most popular airports accounting for 90 percent of passengers.
A statement issued by the Moroccan National Bureau of Airports (ONDA) on July 18 showed that the number of passengers increased in every airport across the kingdom between January and June 2017 compared to the same period last year.
The Al Hoceima airport featured the largest growth, up 278.67 percent from 5,303 users to 20,081, while Tetouan increased second-most from 5,691 to 7,951 (+39.71 percent). Tangier followed, up from 359,719 to 466,950 (+29.81 percent), and then Errachidia, from 7,157 to 9,052 (+26.48 percent).
Domestic travel in Morocco registered an increase of 14.26 percent, from 880,888 to 983,096.
Air travel abroad increased 11.5 percent, from 7,408,849 to 8,260,996. Travel to Europe was the most popular foreign destination, with numbers reaching 894,808 passengers, up 10.92 percent during the same six-month period last year. South America was the smallest foreign market, but it increased the most, surging 235.9 percent from 2,914 to 9,788. North America also registered an increase of 40.3 percent to 37,422.
Travel within Africa decreased 8.16 percent to 81,679.
Paris was revealed to be the top destination, with the top three aerial routes being Casablanca-Paris Orly (313,497), Marrakech-Paris Orly (253,782) and Casablanca-Paris CDG (242,277). Casablanca-Jeddah was the fourth most popular route (176863), while Marrakech-Gatwick completed the top five (162,971).
