Ryanair to begin domestic flights in Morocco in 2024

• $1.4bn invested in kingdom
• $200m for Tangiers base
• 11 routes, nine destinations

Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair will open domestic flights across Morocco from next summer as part of its $1.4 billion investment in the North African country.

Ryanair will be the third airline to operate flights in Morocco, following national carrier Royal Air Moroc and the UAE’s Air Arabia.

The extra commitment to Ryanair’s summer programme means it will offer more than 1,100 weekly flights on 175 routes in the North African country, including 35 new destinations.

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The carrier announced 11 domestic routes to nine destinations, including Agadir, Errachidia, Essaouira, Fez, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Tangier and Tetouan.

There are also plans to introduce 24 new international routes, connecting Morocco to European countries including Germany, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the UK.

CEO Eddie Wilson said he hoped the increased operations would lead to over five million passengers travelling to, from and within the kingdom – a 33 percent annual growth.

The company is investing $200 million to open its fourth base in the country in Tangiers, where two aircraft will be dedicated. A statement from the airline said a further seven aircraft would be based in Marrakesh, three in Fez and two in Agadir.

The addition of Tangiers will see the creation of 60 jobs, swelling Ryanair’s current Moroccan workforce of more than 500.

Moroccan officials hope increased international and domestic flights will help the country attract 17.5 million tourists by 2026, up from 11 million last year. In 2019, Morocco welcomed 13 million visitors.