Casablanca – At the beginning of this month, Ryanair, Europe’s leading low-cost airline, officially launched its fourth base in Morocco, located in Tangier. This new base, part of the airline’s expansion strategy, features two stationed aircraft and an impressive 25 routes, including 13 new connections. These routes will link Tangier to eight new European cities and five new Moroccan destinations for the summer of 2024.
The new routes enhance Ryanair’s footprint in Morocco, significantly increasing connectivity both domestically and internationally. The international network will include new destinations such as Baden-Baden, Barcelona, Carcassonne, Eindhoven, Lisbon, Manchester, Memmingen, and Porto. Within Morocco, the new routes will connect Tangier to Agadir, Essaouira, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, and Oujda.
In addition to these new routes, Ryanair is also introducing its famed low-cost fares on 11 existing domestic Moroccan routes. This expansion aims to strengthen internal connectivity and drive growth across the Kingdom.
Ryanair’s new Tangier base is expected to increase the city’s airport capacity by 70% during the summer of 2024. This move is a key component of Ryanair’s record-breaking summer program, which will operate across 12 Moroccan airports and handle over 5 million passengers—a 31% increase in passenger numbers. The airline’s total investment in Morocco has now surpassed $1.4 billion, supporting more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and boosting economic growth in 12 cities, including Rabat, Marrakech, Fez, Agadir, Tétouan, Essaouira, and Nador.
Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, expressed enthusiasm about the new base:
“We are excited to officially launch our new base in Tangier, which represents a $200 million investment and our fourth base in Morocco. This new base is a crucial part of our record-breaking summer 2024 program, which will see Ryanair operating over 170 routes across the Kingdom. We are committed to enhancing tourism and connectivity in Morocco, and this new base further solidifies our support for the local economy and tourism industry.”
Wilson also highlighted the broader impact of Ryanair’s investment in Morocco, stating, “The opening of this base brings our total investment in Morocco to over $1.4 billion. This investment supports more than 5,000 jobs and fosters significant growth in the local tourism economy. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Moroccan authorities to enhance infrastructure and connectivity, and to position Tangier as a premier summer destination with its rich cultural offerings and beautiful beaches.”
The launch of the Tangier base and the expansion of Ryanair’s operations in Morocco underscore the airline’s commitment to enhancing regional and international connectivity while driving economic development in the region.