Ryanair Shifts Focus to Morocco, Opens New Base in Tangier Amid Spanish Expansion Challenges

Ryanair denounces the lack of incentive policies in Spain, accusing the government, the Ministries of Transport and Consumption, and Aena of wanting to "break the low-cost model" in the country. Its CEO, Eddie Wilson, made this clear in an interview with El Español-Invertia during the inauguration of its new base in Tangier, the fourth in Morocco. The Irish company is now betting on Morocco, which offers it investment facilities.

"We would like to continue to develop in secondary airports in Spain, but we do not find the incentives in Morocco in Spain," lamented Eddie Wilson, who now places Morocco at the center of his expansion strategy. "Morocco is a country where we want to develop and where tourism is deseasonalized," he explains.

The Irish low-cost airline has already invested 1.3 billion euros in aircraft, generating more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributing to economic growth in 12 cities in the kingdom, including Rabat, Marrakech, Fez, Agadir, Tetouan, Essaouira and Nador. Ryanair aims to "double the current investment" and go from 9 to 20 million passengers transported by 2030, operate 250 routes and increase the number of aircraft in the region from 14 to 30, informs its CEO.

Eddie Wilson specifies that Ryanair will open a fifth base in Morocco. "The location has not been decided, but Rabat could be an option," he hinted. The Irish low-cost airline will serve 12 Moroccan airports and transport more than 5 million passengers (+31% growth) this summer from its new Tangier base, which required an investment of 185 million euros.