Casablanca – In a significant development for air travel and tourism, the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) has announced the launch of the first direct flight linking Morocco to Iceland. This inaugural route, operated by the low-cost Icelandic airline Play Airlines, will connect Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, with Marrakech, offering two flights per week starting October 17, 2024.

This new service marks a historic moment as it is the first time Iceland will be directly connected to Morocco through an air route. The initiative comes as part of ONMT’s ongoing efforts to diversify markets and enhance air connectivity. The strategic agreement between ONMT and Play Airlines not only facilitates the launch of these flights but also includes joint marketing activities targeting travelers from Iceland and North America.

The new connection will take advantage of Reykjavik’s position as a hub that links Scandinavian and Western European markets to North America. Play Airlines operates in five major North American airports—New York, Washington, Baltimore, Boston, and Toronto—creating seamless travel opportunities between these regions and Morocco.

Iceland is recognized as one of the strategic markets for Moroccan tourism. In line with this, ONMT has initiated various commercial actions to promote the destination, including a planned “Light Tour” from May 27 to 30, 2024, across four Scandinavian capitals, where over 150 operators were engaged.

Moreover, ONMT has doubled air capacity from Scandinavia for the winter 2024 season by establishing historic partnerships with leading airlines in Northern Europe. This air capacity enhancement program includes 21 weekly direct flights connecting major cities such as Stockholm, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, and Reykjavik to Morocco’s prime tourist destinations, Marrakech and Agadir.

With the launch of this new route, ONMT aims to attract more tourists to Morocco while reinforcing its position in the international tourism market. As excitement builds for the inaugural flight, sector stakeholders are optimistic about the positive impact this connection will have on tourism between Morocco and Iceland.