Morocco Suspends Flights to France Amid Rising COVID-19 Concerns

The news of the suspension of flights with France has disrupted the program of many French citizens and residents on stay in Morocco. On Friday, travelers stormed the Mohammed-V international airport in Casablanca to postpone their departure days from the kingdom before the measure came into effect, scheduled for Friday but finally postponed to Sunday at midnight, reports Le Monde.

Morocco made this decision in order to "preserve [its] achievements" in the fight against Covid-19, at a time when France is facing a fifth wave, indicates a press release from the Interministerial Committee for the Coordination and Monitoring of the Health Protocol for International Travel.

Mehdi and his partner, both Moroccans residing in France, had to shorten their stay in Morocco by three days. "In a few minutes yesterday [Thursday] late in the day, the prices skyrocketed. The last seats have climbed up to 14,000 dirhams [1,340 euros], while we had paid our initial ticket at 1,600 dirhams [152 euros]. And then, very quickly, there were no more seats," he confides. Faced with the high cost of direct flight tickets, the couple finally opted for a detour via Geneva at 250 euros, in order to reach Paris by TGV.

The airlines are taking advantage of the situation. "It’s outrageous!" denounces Lydie, a Toulousaine who came to visit her daughter in Casablanca. She has to shell out 400 euros to get her Air Arabia ticket. "At least I’ll be on European soil. Once in Italy, I’ll take a train, I’ll manage to get home," says Sami, a Moroccan living in Marseille.

For its part, Air France has announced more flights to and from the Moroccan economic capital in order to "facilitate the return of its customers". In one month, the number of infections in France has gone from 6,600 cases to more than 32,000, as of November 25. Morocco had suspended in October its flights from and to Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Russia due to the deteriorating health situation.