Morocco Modernizes Airports with Digital Overhaul Ahead of 2030 World Cup

Responding to a written question from the president of the Progress and Socialism group in the House of Representatives, Rachid Hamouni, the Minister of Transport and Logistics regarding the development of airports, he said that ONDA "will adopt the complete digitization of the passenger journey in the terminal of Rabat-Salé airport, as a pilot experience that will then be applied to Mohammed V airport in Casablanca." Mohamed Abdeljalil specified that "the completion of the works of the new terminal of Rabat-Salé airport is scheduled for the year 2025."

The response document submitted to the House of Representatives indicates that ONDA is focusing on "the expansion and acceleration of the digital transformation in the air transport sector," planned in the strategic program of the Office, entitled "Take-off 2025." One of its strategic axes is the digitization of the passenger journey and management systems. This approach is focused on "the passenger journey, the management of airport operations, the coordination mechanisms between the different stakeholders, as well as the modernization of the institution’s management methods and mechanisms," the same source said.

To achieve this objective, ONDA "has allocated significant financial resources to the digitization workshop by recruiting a number of technical skills to manage the ’Digital Factory’ digital services unit, which will be responsible for the implementation of the various projects aimed at anchoring the digital transformation of the institution in its different activities, whether it is the improvement and simplification of the traveler experience or the strengthening of data exchange and coordination with the various airport partners," the document specifies, adding that these projects also concern the activities of the various administrative units of the Office. Actions that will contribute to improving the governance and efficiency of the institution’s performance.

The expansion of the use of ’Egate smart portals’ to Mohammed V airport in Casablanca and Marrakech-Menara airport is planned, which will allow passengers who have checked in their luggage to access the boarding area by simply scanning their boarding pass. ONDA also plans to build a new terminal at Rabat-Salé airport, as a pilot experience to deploy the passenger journey digitization system, with a view to its generalization in the main airports of the kingdom.