Morocco to Reassess Flight Suspension Policy Amid Omicron Concerns

"By closing the borders, there was a concern for the preservation of health gains," explained government spokesman Mustapha Baitas during a press conference last Thursday. But in 10 days, the scientific commission "will update its decision based on the evolution of the crisis (health)," declared the Minister in charge of relations with Parliament, stressing that Morocco is facing a virus that is spreading very rapidly.

Due to the rapid spread of the new variant of the Covid-19 virus — Omicron (B.1.1.529), particularly in Europe and Africa, and in order to preserve the gains made by Morocco in the fight against the pandemic and protect the health of citizens, the government had decided to suspend all direct passenger flights to the kingdom, for a period of 2 weeks. According to Mustapha Baitas, this decision, which came into effect on November 30, 2021, will have a negative impact on tourism. However, he is counting on domestic tourism to offset the shortfall caused to the sector.