Airline company Ryanair will launch 15 new air routes for the upcoming winter season, connecting Agadir, Essaouira, Ouarzazate, Rabat, and Marrakech to cities in France, Germany, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Sweden.
With an estimated 6 million international seats projected for Morocco in the next winter season, Ryanair will operate 2 million of them, marking an impressive 29% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
CEO of the Moroccan Tourism Office (ONMT) Adel El Fakir expressed his enthusiasm for Ryanair’s expansion in Morocco, stating that it aligns perfectly with the country’s aviation development strategy–as the goal is to enhance direct international point-to-point connections–thus making Ryanair a strategic partner in the tourism sector.
The capacity boost will apply to all destinations, but Marrakech will remain the main destination in Ryanair’s Moroccan portfolio. To accommodate the increased demand, the airline plans to deploy an additional aircraft, bringing the total number of Marrakech-based aircraft to seven. This move will not only strengthen the overall capacity of the destination but also open up new routes, such as the Marrakech-Girona connection.
Marrakech will continue to account for 42% of Ryanair’s total capacity in Morocco, experiencing an impressive 37% growth. In the winter of 2022, the city welcomed 556,000 seats, while in the winter of 2023, it expects to handle 761,000 seats.
The most significant capacity increases will be seen at Ouarzazate Airport (+206%), Essaouira Airport (+76%), followed by Rabat (+40%), Fes, and Agadir, both with a 13% increase. Marrakech, Fes, and Agadir airports will round out the 12 Ryanair aircraft based in Morocco.
Ryanair’s expanded flight offerings will connect Morocco to 12 key tourist markets. France leads the list with a 31% share of the capacity, followed by Spain with 24% and Germany with 11%. Notably, the largest growth rates are expected from more distant markets, including Poland (332%), Germany (+74%), and Ireland (+60%).