Marrakech – Morocco’s Office National des Aéroports (ONDA) has inaugurated a new automated baggage handling center at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport. The “Fast Baggage Center by ONDA” is housed in a completely redesigned 15,200 m² logistics hangar aimed at managing increasing transit flows.
The center represents an important technological advancement in the airport’s infrastructure. It can now process up to 6,000 bags per hour, with an average handling time of just five minutes.
“This is a major qualitative leap in operational efficiency,” ONDA stated in a Tuesday communiqué.
At the core of the system are two interconnected automated sorters that separately manage short and long-haul transit baggage. The center is equipped with latest-generation scanners and explosive detection systems that comply with international standards.
The facility features centralized sorting, intelligent indexing stations, oversized baggage control, and an integrated monitoring system. This setup ensures secure transit while reducing energy consumption by 15%.
The technological advancement will directly support Royal Air Maroc’s expansion, particularly by facilitating large-scale transfer operations to and from Africa. ONDA considers this development part of a broader transformation aimed at positioning Casablanca as a global transit hub capable of handling growing traffic with “rigor, fluidity, and reliability.”
Vision 2030
The centralized configuration is expected to reduce congestion in the airport’s traditional baggage circuit, improving waiting times for all arriving passengers. While the Fast Baggage Center is now fully operational, ONDA specified that “a few weeks of adjustment will be necessary to optimize its operation and fully measure its impact on passengers.”
“With this major development a few months before AFCON 2025,” ONDA said, “we are demonstrating our ability to anticipate needs, invest where logistical performance is crucial, and carry the national ambition through every stage of the passenger journey.”
The baggage center initiative is part of ONDA’s broader “Airports 2030” strategy. This comprehensive plan includes the construction of a new terminal at Mohammed V Airport, currently in its initial phase.
The terminal project represents a MAD 15 billion ($1.5 billion) investment and will increase the airport’s capacity by 20 million passengers annually. Once completed in 2029, the airport will accommodate up to 35 million travelers yearly, positioning it among Africa’s largest and most strategically located airports.
The new H-shaped terminal will feature direct access to the Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed rail line, offering travelers quick connections to major Moroccan cities. The design incorporates passenger comfort with three main levels, green spaces, commercial zones, a large duty-free area, VIP lounges, and a hotel.
These developments align with Morocco’s preparations for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup and reflect the North African country’s vision to establish itself as a major aviation hub connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Read also: Morocco Removes Security Scanners at Mohammed V Airport to Cut Wait Times
