ONMT Celebrates First Direct Flight from Montreal to Marrakech

Rabat – The inaugural flight from Montreal to Marrakech, operated by the Canadian airline Air Transat, landed at Marrakech-Menara airport this morning, marking a significant milestone.

This flight was facilitated by the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), which has worked hard to expand direct air traffic links with North America, according to the press release.

The statement from the ONMT celebrated the inaugural flight as a historic connection between North America and Marrakech.

Sebastian Ponce, Air Transat‘s Chief Revenue Officer, and Joseph Adamo, Transat’s Director of Sales and Marketing, were among the passengers on today’s inaugural journey.

The ONMT sees this new route as progress in its “Light In Action” strategy to expand into the North American market.

On October 25, 2023, the ONMT and Air Transat signed a strategic partnership deal, marking the inaugural operational move towards launching the Montreal-Marrakech route.

Air Transat has become the second North American airline, following Air Canada, to offer services to Morocco.

It is now the exclusive North American carrier providing direct flights to Marrakech twice weekly during the summer and once a week in winter.

According to predictions, the introduction of this new route will not just enhance tourism in Marrakech but also offer travelers several travel options.

They will have access to coastal resorts like Essaouira, Taghazout, and Agadir, as well as mountain and eco-tourism spots such as Azilal and Béni Mellal.

Travelers can also explore the South, including Ouarzazate, Zagora, and Merzouga, and even experience city breaks and cultural destinations in the North, like Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, and Fez.

Air Transat’s appeal to Morocco is further enhanced by its status as the premier vacation transportation provider in Canada, since it earned the title of the best leisure airline globally in 2023, as voted by Skytrax.

To celebrate the flight’s inauguration, the ONMT is hosting a Fam trip for Transat group’s top executives from June 13 to 16.

They’ll meet with officials from the National Tourism Confederation and the Regional Tourism Council of Marrakech-Safi to enhance relationships with operators and foster beneficial partnerships for Morocco’s tourism industry.

In the past decade, seat capacity from Canada to Morocco has exponentially surged by 87%, jumping from 87,000 to 164,000 seats annually.

According to an ONMT statement, Marrakech represents 24% of Canadian tourist arrivals in Morocco. The figure could reach 40% by becoming the primary departure city for tours as well as combined trips.