Morocco Unveils $2.7 Billion Airport Expansion Plan Ahead of 2030 World Cup

Morocco has big ambitions for its airports. On Monday, the government announced "an ambitious plan to increase the capacity of the Kingdom’s airports to 80 million passengers by 2030, compared to 38 million currently." It plans to expand the Casablanca airport to accommodate 23.3 million travelers, strengthen the capacities of the tourist hubs of Marrakech (14 million passengers) and Agadir (6.3 million).

The capacity of Marrakech-Menara airport, one of the busiest in Morocco, will also need to be reinforced. Designed to accommodate 9 million passengers per year, it struggles to manage the record influx of tourists, as the queues at security and customs controls are lengthening, causing delays and growing discontent. The Moroccan government has therefore deployed emergency measures to improve fluidity, but also to increase its capacity.

These efforts not only meet the needs of the 2030 World Cup, but also aim to support the country’s tourism boom. Arrivals have reached a record 16 million visitors in the kingdom since January and until November, up 20% from the same period last year. The tourism industry in Morocco, which accounts for 7% of GDP, has already generated more than 9 billion euros in revenue this year, even before December.