Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism has refuted reports suggesting it had agreed to provide financial aid or subsidies to Irish airline Ryanair for its domestic flights in the country.
The ministry’s statement comes after some media reports indicated that the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) would be subsidizing Ryanair for its operations within the country.
However, the ministry categorically stated that Ryanair has not received any form of subsidy or financial assistance for its domestic flights in Morocco and that this stance remains unchanged.
Addressing concerns about the perceived competition between Ryanair and Royal Air Maroc (RAM), the ministry emphasized that partnerships in the aviation industry are aimed at fostering complementarity rather than direct rivalry.
It noted that Ryanair’s flight schedules do not overlap with those of national carriers, thus contributing to enhancing connectivity and inter-regional accessibility.
The ministry also highlighted the significance of Ryanair’s routes, such as Tangier-Essaouira, Oujda-Marrakech, and Fes-Agadir, in bolstering interconnection between Moroccan regions, promoting domestic tourism, and facilitating longer stays for foreign visitors.
On the alleged requests for payment in euros for domestic flights, contrary to the requirement of selling tickets in dirhams to Moroccan citizens, the ministry assured that Ryanair is actively working to address this matter.
In addition, the ministry pointed out the recent achievements in Moroccan tourism, including a record-breaking 14.5 million tourists in 2023, as evidence of the country’s exceptional potential as a tourism destination.
With ambitious goals outlined in the tourism roadmap and upcoming major events like the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 World Cup, maximizing air travel capacity is essential for sustaining growth.
The ministry emphasized the importance of leveraging both national and international airlines to meet the challenges of development. It highlighted the significant resources available to Royal Air Maroc through the government’s ambitious program contract, which aims to expand its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037.
