ONDA Launches Command Center at Mohammed V Airport as Part of Major Expansion

Marrakech – Morocco’s National Airports Office (ONDA) has activated an Airport Operational Center (APOC) at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, establishing a 24/7 coordination hub during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and future international events.

The center brings together key airport stakeholders in a single location, including Interior Ministry services, National Security (DGSN), Royal Gendarmerie, Customs Administration (ADII), airlines, ground handlers, airport operators, air traffic control, maintenance teams, and IT services.

“This strategic center marks a structural advancement in the operational organization of the Kingdom’s primary airport,” ONDA stated in a communique released Monday.

The facility manages all critical airport processes from aircraft operations planning and runway coordination to baggage flow management, passenger routing, security operations, and infrastructure monitoring. It also oversees ground mobility, parking, and maintenance coordination.

For passengers, the center promises reduced waiting times and real-time information. Airlines will benefit from improved resource coordination, fewer delays, and enhanced operational efficiency, according to ONDA.

The launch comes as Morocco’s airports handle annual traffic growth exceeding 12%, requiring enhanced operational resilience at the country’s major aviation hub.

This operational upgrade forms part of ONDA’s broader “Airports 2030” strategy, a MAD 38 billion ($3.8 billion) expansion program targeting 80 million passengers annually by 2030, up from current high-30 million capacity levels. The program focuses on doubling capacity rather than simple terminal additions.

Mohammed V Airport represents the strategy’s flagship project, having surpassed 11 million passengers for the first time in 2025 with traffic increasing 9.3% from 10.5 million in 2024, largely driven by AFCON 2025’s unprecedented momentum.

ONDA is implementing immediate passenger flow improvements, including redesigned access areas aimed at reducing check-in times to under two minutes from vehicle drop-off.

A new mega-terminal scheduled for 2029 will add over 20 million passenger capacity annually, designed specifically for hub operations. ONDA’s 2025 procurement tender lists construction costs at MAD 12 billion ($1.2 billion), reflecting the project’s national priority status.

The network strategy extends beyond Casablanca. Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fez airports will receive terminal expansions and equipment modernization to handle tourism demand spikes and seasonal peaks.

External financing supports the ambitious timeline. The African Development Bank approved €270 million for airport upgrades ahead of 2030, tied directly to Morocco’s capacity expansion plans and World Cup preparations.

The operational center represents Morocco’s shift from accommodating growth to actively shaping connectivity patterns. Enhanced hub performance at Casablanca positions Morocco as a routing choice for Africa-Europe-Americas traffic flows, while improved tourism gateways protect the country’s visitor growth from arrival-related service failures.

ONDA’s approach combines infrastructure development with operational reforms, addressing procurement bottlenecks and performance standards that typically challenge large-scale airport modernization projects.

The strategy embeds airports within Morocco’s wider connectivity goals, synchronizing aviation expansion with rail integration as the North African country surpasses 20 million tourists this year, reinforcing its emergence as a regional transit hub.