Summary

• The airport’s main airlines will offer three million more seats in 2024 compared to 2019, improving Marrakech’s connectivity.
• As part of their expansion in North America, Air Transat and United introduced routes to Marrakech.
• Marrakech has seen a significant increase in tourist numbers recently after Aer Lingus launched a winter route from Dublin earlier this week.

Since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marrakech Menara Airport (RAK) in Morocco has experienced a tremendous growth spurt in terms of airlines, routes and seat capacity. While some airlines have departed the airport compared to 2019, their departures have been offset by the arrival of several new airlines, including United Airlines and Air Transat, which have provided the airport’s first connections to North America.

Earlier this week Aer Lingus It was also announced that a route from Dublin will open next winter, a testament to RAK’s successful growth in 2024. Let’s take a look at the numbers and some of the important new routes, including from the US and Canada.

Top airlines provide three million additional seats

A comparison of the seat data for 2019 and 2024 shows that the airports’ largest airlines have provided a total of 3,231,780 additional net return seats. In order, these are the 18 largest airlines (not exhaustive):

This figure also takes into account slight capacity reductions at Royal Air Maroc, TUI Fly Belgium, TAP Air Portugal and Lufthansa Air Arabia Maroc has now significantly reduced its presence, with service cuts in recent years leaving it offering just over 73,000 round-trip seats this year, compared to 430,000 in 2019.

Since the end of the pandemic, several new players have also joined the airport, whose respective goals are listed below.

Expansion in North America

The entry of United Airlines And Air Transat into the Marrakech market is a testament to the destination’s increasing popularity. American and Canadian tourism signals that Marrakech is becoming a high-spending destination.

Smaller holiday destinations often aim to have direct flights to the US as this usually attracts more tourists. One example is Malta, which is aiming to have a direct connection to North America, even though this is not financially viable. This would attract higher-spending tourists and position Malta less as a budget holiday destination and more as a luxury destination.

Year-round flights from Air Transat

Air Transat was the first North American airline to announce flights to Marrakech, conveniently using its Airbus A321LR, a low-risk option for a route that had not been served before. Operations from Montréal (YUL) to RAK began in June and flights will be offered year-round. This is Air Transat’s first route to Africa.

The Canadian carrier operates two weekly services year-round, with a third weekly frequency added this year between June and April. According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, Air Transat will offer a total of 398 seats per week per route to RAK this winter, with flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

At the time of the launch, Joseph Adamo, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Air Transat, said:

“We are extremely proud to launch this new route between Montreal and Marrakech, an initiative that not only expands our destination offering but also reinforces our mission to bring people closer together.

This direct connection will allow the Moroccan diaspora to more easily reunite with their loved ones, while also providing Canadian travelers with a unique opportunity to discover the cultural and historical wonders of Morocco. This is an important milestone in our history and demonstrates our commitment to creating unforgettable and meaningful travel experiences.”

The route is complemented by the company’s package tours, which include guided tours and à la carte hotels.

United’s operation in October

United will begin operating a service from Newark on October 24. The route will be served by Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, which has 99 seats in economy class, 22 seats in premium economy and 46 seats in United Polaris. The airline’s decision to use the 767 with premium features is not without merit. This is probably not due to a lack of aircraft, but rather to the expectation that passengers will pay more. The use of the aircraft to Marrakech from October is an effective use of the aircraft in winter, as demand for destinations that are popular during the summer season is usually lower.

This route is part of United’s continued push into largely “unexpected” destinations. Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of global network planning and alliances, said the following at the time of the route’s announcement.

“We have always been ahead of the game when it comes to helping our customers discover hidden gems and we continue to strive to provide them with the most unique travel options for their adventures abroad.”

United will also be the first U.S. airline to offer flights to Morocco, breaking Royal Air Maroc’s monopoly.

In November 2024, United will offer 501 weekly seats, split between three flights per week leaving Newark on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The combination of Air Transat and United Marrakesh’s North American network includes five weekly flights and 899 weekly seats this winter.

A growing European hotspot

The Moroccan Ministry of Tourism reported that the country recorded 7.4 million tourist arrivals year-to-date in the first six months of 2024, an increase of 14% compared to the same period last year. For the whole of 2023, the figures reached 17.4 million, with 17.5 million arrivals expected in 2026, rising to 26 million in 2030. Arrivals from Europe are the country’s main source of tourism. For Marrakech in particular, the regional tourism delegation indicates that tourist arrivals increased by 63% in the first five months of 2023 compared to 2019.

Notable developments this year include Ryanair’s domestic expansion following the signing of an agreement with the Moroccan government. This summer, Ryanair has 14 737 aircraft, half of which are based in Marrakech, making Marrakech the airline’s main Moroccan airport in terms of station capacity. The airline will offer a total of 175 connections from Morocco.

Ryanair is the largest airline in Marrakech in terms of seat capacity offered this year, with around 4.19 million seats. EasyJet ranks second with 2.2 million seats in 2024. Earlier this year, EasyJet committed to doubling its seat offer in Morocco by 2028.

This week, Aer Lingus announced it would launch a winter flight from Dublin to Marrakech in October, competing directly with Ryanair. Aer Lingus says the development comes “in response to global trends that show a growing desire for sun holidays in autumn and winter.”