Rabat – Israeli airlines officially inaugurated two new flights from Tel Aviv to Marrakech today, July 25.
The flights connecting Tel Aviv and Marrakech are the first commercial air links between Israel and Morocco.
El AI and Israir Airlines will operate the routes, landing at Menara Airport in Marrakech after an estimated five to six hour flight.
Haaretz reported that the inauguration of the flights between the two destinations will start with one flight per week.
The airline hopes to increase the frequency to five scheduled flights a week from the two destinations, depending on the demand.
As the first Israeli flight arrived in the Marrakech airport, music bands from Morocco’s folklore welcomed and greeted the tourists upon their arrival.
The news outlet said that El AI is also set to open flights to Casablanca in September.
Israel’s Arkia Airline is set to operate its first direct flight to Morocco on Tuesday, next week.
Royal Air Maroc is also expected to operate between Israel and Morocco later this year.
The opening of the flight comes after both Morocco and Israel decided to re-establish ties in December 2020.
Israel also signed a joint declaration with Morocco along with the US to boost ties at all levels.
The opening of the Israeli flights is also part of the resumption of international flights to and from Morocco.
Morocco allowed the resumption of flights in mid-June after months of border closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Israel and Morocco are hoping to see the direct flights benefiting tourists from both countries, particularly the Jewish diaspora in Israel.
Last year, Morocco’s Minister of Tourism Nadia Fettah Alaoui estimated that 200,000 Israeli tourists are expected to visit Morocco.
Last year, a flight from Israel carried out a delegation to Morocco.
Israel’s National Security Adviser Meir Ben Shabbat led the delegation in a working visit marked by the signing of the Joint Declaration.
