French Nationals Stranded in Morocco as Air Links Suspended, Criticize Consular Response

Dany is from Cergy-Pontoise (Val d’Oise). This fifty-year-old contacted by LCI had the impression that the situation of last year was repeating itself. In 2020, from one day to the next, air links were interrupted between Morocco and about thirty countries, including France. Flights are pushed back or canceled depending on the airlines, making a return to France constantly uncertain. "They just keep canceling my flights, it’s a real lottery," rages Karla. A law student in Paris. She arrived in January in Kenitra to see her boyfriend, and should have returned since April 12 last. "My exams are for May 25 and I didn’t want to do my revisions during Ramadan," explains the 22-year-old woman, reports LCI.

Due to the lack of flights departing from Rabat, Karla hopes to find a repatriation flight from Casablanca. "But I must first be sure to have a flight." Contrary to last year, flights and boat trips have been authorized to bring people stranded in Morocco back to France. However, these journeys are quickly full and leave at very high prices.

Like many in the case, Dany spotted a Casablanca-Paris one-way flight for 1,500 euros. "In low season like this, the prices shouldn’t be that high," he notes. To avoid paying his return ticket too expensive, he plans to go through Tunisia. "We have tickets for 400 euros while the airlines have received billions because of the virus. They could make an effort," Patrick, dissatisfied, also observes. A resident in Morocco, he was supposed to return to France on April 1. He will finally wait until May 22, the day after the theoretical resumption of air links.