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Marrakech – Morocco’s National Airports Office (ONDA) has launched a public tender for the construction of a new terminal at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport. The project, valued at MAD 10 billion ($1 billion), represents one of the largest infrastructure developments in the country’s aviation history.
“The ONDA is engaging in one of the largest construction operations in its history with this flagship project of the national ‘Airports 2030’ strategy,” the office stated in its announcement on Tuesday.
The new H-shaped terminal will initially handle 20 million passengers annually, expandable to 30 million. It will span 600,000 square meters and feature a central processor building with two jetties. The design includes optimal solutions for baggage handling, passenger circulation, and boarding bridge utilization.
The tender follows an international call for expressions of interest launched in May, which attracted about twenty Moroccan, Chinese, and Turkish companies. It is structured into nine sub-lots covering the main building trades, with a total execution period of 40 months.
Site preparation works, awarded to construction company STAM, are already 40% complete. The terminal design, created by a consortium including Ala Concept, RSHP Architects, and Egis Bâtiment International, focuses on innovation, ergonomics, and operational efficiency.
The project adopts a modular and systematic approach with prefabrication, rapid assembly, and waste reduction among its design priorities. The comprehensive development plan includes the construction of a new runway and air traffic control tower, which will be tendered separately.
The terminal will connect directly to the future high-speed rail line linking Tangier and Marrakech, allowing travelers to reach Marrakech in 50 minutes and Tangier in 90 minutes.
‘A strategic investment for Morocco’
“The new terminal will support and accompany the growth of the national carrier Royal Air Maroc,” ONDA noted, pointing to the project’s role in positioning Casablanca as an international air hub. Royal Air Maroc plans to quadruple its fleet from 50 to nearly 200 aircraft by 2030.
This terminal project is part of a broader MAD 28 billion ($2.8 billion) investment program under the “Airports 2030” vision announced by Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh in April.
The comprehensive master plan aims to more than double Morocco’s airport capacity to 80 million passengers by 2030 and elevate the country’s airports to world-class standards in performance, efficiency, and international connectivity.
“This program consists primarily of building a new airport in Casablanca, following Royal directives, to serve as a gateway between Morocco and other countries around the world, particularly distant destinations,” Kayouh stated during a Chamber of Representatives session.
In July, Morocco signed a landmark MAD 38 billion ($3.8 billion) agreement to upgrade airports and boost the aviation sector. The five-year investment plan focuses on expanding and modernizing key airports in Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fez.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), aviation contributes MAD 112 billion ($11.2 billion) to Morocco’s GDP and supports 856,000 jobs, representing 7.9% of the country’s economy.
The enhancements align with preparations for Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. However, the aviation expansion efforts will extend beyond World Cup host cities to neighboring areas, promoting economic development and social cohesion throughout the country.
“Beyond its technical dimension, this project represents a strategic investment for Morocco,” the ONDA statement stressed. The new terminal is expected to generate significant economic and social benefits, including direct and indirect job creation, mobilization of local building and service sectors, and stimulation of the regional economy.
