US Welcomes First Direct Flight from Tel Aviv to Marrakech, Marking Israel-Morocco Ties

"We are delighted to see El Al’s inaugural flight from Tel Aviv to Marrakech today (Sunday, July 24)," the State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs said on Twitter, hailing an "another important development stemming from the improved relations" between its partners and friends in Israel and Morocco.

On Sunday, an El Al B-787-9 Dreamliner took off for Marrakech and landed around 3:30 p.m. in Marrakech. The launch of this flight took place in Tel Aviv, in the presence of the Israeli Minister of Tourism Yoel Razvozov. "This line will contribute to the development of tourism and trade agreements between the two countries," he said in a company statement. El Al plans to operate five flights per week to the cities of Marrakech and Casablanca.

In addition to EL AL, Israir has also launched a direct line to Morocco. For this first inaugural flight connecting Tel Aviv to Marrakech, the Israir A320 carried 89 passengers, mostly members of the Moroccan community in Israel. The plane landed at Marrakech-Menara airport around 12:42 Moroccan time and was greeted with water cannons from the firefighters.