Rabat – Morocco’s airports have welcomed almost 200,000 travelers in the week following flight resumptions.
In the first week since borders opened on June 15, Moroccan airports have recorded 195,547 passengers traveling on 1,857 flights, both in terms of international arrivals and departures, according to Morocco’s National Airport Office (ONDA).
The Mohammed V airport in Casablanca is leading Morocco’s efforts to welcome back both Moroccans living abroad (MREs) and foreign tourists. With 84,100 passengers traveling on 762 flights, the Mohammed V airport saw 43% of Morocco’s passenger traffic between June 15 and 21.
Morocco’s second most popular airport since flights have resumed is Marrakech-Menara, which saw 296 flights carrying 29,000 passengers. The country’s third busiest airport is Tangier Ibn Battouta, with 190 flights and more than 19,100 passengers in the same period.
According to data from ONDA, the figures represent 43% of passenger traffic and 57% of all flights received during the same period in 2019.
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Europe represents 86% of Morocco’s international traffic, which is equivalent to more than 168,500 passengers. The second-largest demographic was from North America, which saw around 9,300 passengers, followed by Africa with 8,400 passengers total.
Most people traveling to Morocco are coming from list A countries, which make up 98.5% of all international arrivals. 126,966 passengers from list A countries traveled to Morocco in the past week, while only 1,844 passengers came from list B countries.
According to ONDA’s press release, Morocco has the most airports in Africa accredited by the Airport Health Accreditation, which certify airports that have met COVID-19 related safety measures and offer the best sanitary conditions. Morocco has a total of 15 accredited airports; in shared second place in Africa are Egypt and South Africa, both with 9 accredited airports.
Royal Air Maroc (RAM) tickets have been selling out “in record time,” as MREs are eager to return home for the summer holidays. RAM adopted a new pricing policy following King Mohammed VI’s instructions to all Moroccan transportation companies to make ticket prices more affordable.
