The Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) and Ryanair announced a partnership on Wednesday to boost tourism in Dakhla by adding new direct flights to Madrid, Spain, and Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.
The agreement looks to make Dakhla more accessible for European travelers and strengthen Morocco’s appeal as a prime destination for water sports and leisure tourism.
The two-year partnership, signed by ONMT officials and Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson, will bring direct flights from major European markets to Dakhla starting in January 2025.
The new routes will operate twice weekly from Madrid’s Barajas Airport and Lanzarote, one of Ryanair’s largest hubs. With the new connections, Ryanair becomes ONMT’s fourth major airline partner serving Dakhla, alongside Royal Air Maroc, Binter Canarias, and Transavia.
“This launch aligns with our strategy to increase air connectivity for Dakhla and support its rapid growth as a tourism hub,” Minister of Tourism Fatim-Zahra Ammor said. The minister expressed: “We’re thrilled to have major international carriers like Ryanair on board to help us reach new tourism records.”
Ryanair’s Eddie Wilson noted that linking Dakhla to Madrid and Lanzarote will support local tourism by connecting Morocco’s “jewel of the South” with high-traffic European destinations.
“Morocco has shown tremendous professionalism in its airport operations, and we’ve built a great relationship with Moroccan authorities over the years. We’re eager to expand our routes here,” he stated.
The new air links are expected to nearly double Dakhla Airport’s international passenger capacity, with projected traffic of 47,000 passengers annually.
The new routes also put Spain ahead of France as the top European tourism source market for Dakhla.
ONMT and Ryanair plan to support the flights with marketing campaigns across Europe.
As part of Morocco’s “Light in Action” tourism strategy, the agreement with Ryanair reflects Morocco’s ongoing efforts to elevate its global tourism profile.