Morocco Plans Massive Airport Expansion Ahead of 2030 World Cup

During a session at the House of Advisors, the minister detailed the Kingdom’s ambitions in terms of airport modernization. The future terminal of Mohammed V Airport will significantly increase its capacity. It is planned to handle an annual flow of 45 million passengers, compared to 15 million currently.

The objective is to provide Morocco with a modern infrastructure, in line with international standards. It is not just a matter of meeting the requirements of the 2030 World Cup, but also of ensuring the sustainable development of the Moroccan air transport sector.

The investments will not be limited to Casablanca. All the country’s airports are affected by a vast modernization plan. Currently, they can handle a traffic of 40 million passengers per year. The objective is to double this figure to reach 80 million passengers by 2035. A significant budget of 40 billion dirhams will be allocated to this project.

Several airports, such as those in Rabat-Salé, Tangier, Marrakech, Agadir, Fez and Tetouan, will see their capacity increased. For example, the Rabat-Salé airport will reach a capacity of 5 million passengers as early as next year. As for the Tangier airport, an investment of 3 billion dirhams will increase its capacity to 7 million passengers.

In addition to increasing capacities, improving the traveler experience is also a major concern, the minister detailed. Reducing the time spent in airports is a stated objective. The aim is to go from 45 minutes currently to less than 25 minutes. The Marrakech airport, particularly solicited with an increase in attendance of 40%, is the subject of special attention. Measures are planned to streamline movements, particularly during peak periods.

The boom in tourism in Morocco, with a 25% increase in the number of visitors compared to the previous year, is stimulating the development of low-cost airlines. A trend that should continue, offering new prospects for the Moroccan tourism sector. The minister also announced that a monitoring commission will accompany all Moroccan airports during the influx of travelers and tourists for the end-of-year holidays.