Casablanca – Morocco’s airport system continued to record solid growth during the first quarter of 2026, confirming the recovery and expansion of the national air transport sector. According to data from the National Airports Office (ONDA), total commercial passenger traffic reached 8,913,041 passengers by the end of March 2026, representing an increase of 11.15% compared with the same period in 2025.

This performance reflects a sustained upward trend in both international and domestic mobility, supported by strong tourism demand, expanding air connectivity, and the gradual strengthening of Morocco’s aviation infrastructure.

International traffic remains the main driver

International passenger traffic continues to dominate Morocco’s airports, accounting for 8,022,866 passengers during the first quarter of 2026, an annual increase of 10.91%. This segment represents more than 80% of total air traffic, highlighting Morocco’s continued integration into global travel flows, particularly with Europe.

Europe remains by far the largest source market, representing over 80% of international traffic and growing by 9.82%. Other regions also recorded notable increases: Africa rose by 20.96%, North America by 25.9%, the Maghreb by 14.12%, the Middle and Far East by 9.45%, and South America by 37.69%. These figures point to a gradual diversification of Morocco’s air connectivity beyond its traditional European base.

Domestic traffic also showed strong momentum, reaching 890,175 passengers, up 13.34% year-on-year. This growth reflects improving internal connectivity and a rising demand for air travel between Moroccan cities.

Casablanca maintains its leadership position

Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport remained the country’s busiest hub, handling 2,730,209 passengers in the first quarter of 2026. This corresponds to an increase of 15.92% compared with the same period last year, and represents more than 30% of total national air traffic.

The airport continues to serve as Morocco’s main international gateway, benefiting from its strategic position and extensive network of long-haul and regional connections.

Strong performance across regional airports

Most regional airports also posted positive results, confirming a broad-based recovery across the national network. Among the strongest growth rates were Beni Mellal (+31.35%), Errachidia (+20.81%), Nador El Aroui (+13.83%), Rabat-Salé (+13.51%), and Tangier Ibn Battouta (+11.86%).

Marrakech-Menara Airport also maintained a strong performance, recording 11.68% growth with 2,786,781 passengers during the first quarter of 2026. Agadir Al Massira followed with an increase of 10.76%.

Marrakech’s results are particularly significant given its role as one of Morocco’s leading tourism gateways. The airport handled more than 2.68 million international passengers, while domestic traffic surged by 36.47%, reaching 104,109 passengers. In March alone, the airport surpassed one million passengers, reflecting sustained growth momentum.

Key international routes from Marrakech included connections to Paris Orly, London Gatwick, and Paris Charles de Gaulle, along with strong traffic to Casablanca–Jeddah. These routes underline the importance of European and Gulf markets in supporting Marrakech’s tourism-driven air traffic.

Rising flight movements and cargo activity

Beyond passenger numbers, operational indicators also showed positive growth. Aircraft movements across Morocco’s airports reached 67,263 flights during the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 11.24% compared with the same period in 2025.

Air freight activity also expanded, rising by 13.33% to 29,846 tonnes. This reflects increasing trade flows and improved logistics capacity within Morocco’s aviation system.

Structural expansion and long-term strategy

The continued growth in air traffic comes as Morocco advances its “Airports 2030” strategy, which aims to significantly expand national aviation capacity. The plan includes major upgrades such as increasing Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport capacity from 15 million to 35 million passengers annually, as well as developing new or expanded hubs in cities including Marrakech, Agadir, and Tangier.

Marrakech, in particular, is expected to reach a future capacity target of up to 16 million passengers, reinforcing its role as a major tourism gateway.

The first quarter of 2026 confirms a sustained expansion of Morocco’s aviation sector, driven primarily by international tourism demand and strengthened regional connectivity. Airports across the country are benefiting from rising passenger flows, improved infrastructure, and a diversified network of destinations.

With double-digit growth in both passenger traffic and cargo volumes, Morocco’s airport system continues to position itself as a key regional hub linking Africa, Europe, and beyond, while supporting the country’s broader economic and tourism development objectives.