Moroccan Airports Welcome 7,4 Million Passengers in First Half of 2022

Rabat – Moroccan airports welcomed 7,439,275 passengers and 70,680 flights in the first half of 2022, according to the National Airports Office (ONDA).

Since the resumption of international flights on February 7, Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport alone has welcomed 2,756,685 passengers.

The kingdom’s leading airport recorded 27,258 flights, showing a significant recovery rate of 59% compared to the same period in 2019.

Domestic airports have also witnessed positive results compared to 2019, recording 64% for passengers and 72% for Moroccan air traffic.

Marrakech Menara airport has also witnessed a significant number of departures and arrivals, recording 1,764,080 passengers with a recovery rate of 56%.

The recovery rate reflects a gradual return to normal tourist visits since Morocco reopened its airspace in February.

Meanwhile, Agadir Al Massira airport has witnessed the arrival and departure of 613,917 passengers with a recovery rate of 63%.

ONDA further reported that the first recovery rates recorded by the airports of Tetouan, Guelmim, and Oujda are 444%, 126%, and 104% respectively.

Monthly air passenger traffic has also seen an upward trend in the first half of this year, ONDA said, adding that positive results were also observed following the launch of Operation Marhaba 2022.

The month of March alone recorded a recovery rate of 70%, while May and June reached 109% and 89% respectively.

During the first half of 2022, air traffic was 39% for Mohammed V airport, 20% for Marrakech Menara, and 9% for Tangier Ibn Batouta airport.

Meanwhile, air freight recorded a recovery rate of 75% compared to the same period of 2019, ONDA noted, adding that it stood at 36,296 tonnes against 48,696 tonnes during the same period in 2019.

Apart from air traffic with South America, all other destinations have recorded significant recovery rates compared to 2019.

Europe, which accounts for more than 83% of international air traffic, recorded a recovery rate of around 67% compared to 2019.