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Casablanca – In a celebration blending elegance, hospitality, and ambition, Turkish Airlines marked 20 years of operations in Morocco last night with a high-profile event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Casablanca. What may have looked like an anniversary celebration was, in essence, the launch of a new chapter in Moroccan tourism.
The national flag carrier of Turkiye, which began direct flights to Casablanca in March 2005 with four weekly routes, now connects Morocco to Istanbul through 7 weekly flights to Casablanca and 9 to Marrakech. The scale and success of this connection were evident not only in numbers but in tone, as the event featured heartfelt tributes, music, and most importantly a strategic alliance with the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT).
“We are very excited today to celebrate this event with our partners, with our agencies, and with the representatives of tourism in Morocco,” said Sayfullah Ilyas, General Manager of Turkish Airlines Casablanca, in an interview with Morocco World News. “It’s a great pleasure for us to be a representative in Morocco. We want to extend our operations here, and therefore we signed this partnership with ONMT today. With their support, we will promote Morocco more through our international channels.”
With this new, mutually beneficial agreement, Turkish Airlines and ONMT aim to strengthen cooperation and elevate Morocco’s visibility on a global scale. This includes joint campaigns, collaborative projects, and sustained partnerships to drive tourism growth and diversify Morocco’s tourist source markets.
For Achraf Fayda, Director General of ONMT, the partnership couldn’t be more timely. “Exactly the type of partnership Morocco and Turkiye need,” he said, pointing to Istanbul’s status as a global hub and its value in creating new development basins outside Europe. “80% of tourists visiting Morocco still come from Europe.”
Indeed, the numbers speak volumes. Morocco welcomed 17.4 million tourists in 2024, with projections of 26 million by 2030. Meanwhile, Moroccan airports served 32 million passengers in 2024, with 70 million projected by the end of the decade, a leap that positions aviation and tourism as core pillars of Morocco’s development strategy, particularly ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2030.
“We made the right choice,” Fayda said. “This is a long-term partnership.”
At the heart of the event, both literally and symbolically, was the legacy of Ibn Battuta – the Moroccan explorer whose journeys embody Turkish Airlines’ marketing campaign slogan: “Widen Your World.” Ilyas reminded guests of the explorer’s admiration for Turkish hospitality, saying, “Ibn Battuta once thought God gathered all the world’s beauty in one place.” But, it was Morocco that inspired his journey. “What pushed Ibn Battuta to discover the world?” Ilyas asked, “It was the beauty of Morocco, the one place where you can experience six or seven countries in one.”
That sentiment now lives on in action. To celebrate its 20th anniversary in Morocco, Turkish Airlines launched a 20% discount campaign covering 150+ destinations in 20 countries, and a 15% discount for over 50,000 Moroccans living in Turkiye returning home. The airline also announced a giveaway of 20 free tickets to destinations once visited by Ibn Battuta on their social media.
Hikmet Mesut Turkseven, Turkish Airlines Vice President for Africa, added context to the airline’s broader strategy: “Turkish Airlines connects cultures, enterprises, and families… Casablanca is a critical point between Europe, Asia, and Africa.”
The airline now flies to 353 destinations in 131 countries and is eyeing expansion to a fleet of 813 aircraft, aiming to serve 171 million passengers annually by 2033.
That scale brings weight. Mustafa Ilker Kilic, Turkiye’s ambassador to Morocco, highlighted how 250,000 Moroccans visited Turkiye last year, while 60,000 Turks visited Morocco. He also reaffirmed the diplomatic and cultural ties between both nations, noting Turkiye’s involvement in cultural events like the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music.
Still, global tensions are rising. In response to ongoing flight disruptions, Ilyas reassured Moroccan passengers: “We will continue our Casablanca and Marrakesh flights as usual. There is no cancellation for now. But we recommend passengers stay updated through our social media and official website.”
The evening concluded with Turkish music, and a musical performance by Moroccan pop star Douzi, alongside a tombola where seven lucky attendees won various prizes. It was the perfect end to a night that not only celebrated the past but hinted at a more connected and collaborative future.
For Morocco, this celebration wasn’t just about Turkish Airlines, it was about growth, positioning, and the power of strategic partnerships to redefine a nation’s touristic aspirations.
