Morocco’s National Airports Authority has appointed two seasoned insiders to lead key divisions as the country’s airport infrastructure gears up for a critical decade of transformation. Abdelhalim El Karimi will now head the air navigation division, while Hicham Rahil takes over airport operations—two strategic roles at the heart of the ONDA’s “Airports 2030” roadmap, which aims to elevate Morocco’s aviation network onto the global stage.
El Karimi brings a robust technical background to the role, with academic credentials from two of France’s top institutions—École Polytechnique and Télécom Paris. He previously led the ONDA’s IT systems for over a decade, positioning him as a central figure in modernizing digital infrastructure. In his new post, El Karimi will be responsible for strengthening the technological independence of Morocco’s air navigation systems and driving forward their innovation capacity in a fast-evolving global environment.
Rahil, meanwhile, has a deep, operational understanding of Morocco’s airport ecosystem. Holding a PhD in applied mathematics, he has worked across several of the country’s major hubs, gaining hands-on experience in the field. Now at the helm of airport operations, his primary mission is to lead a broad transformation effort, aligning day-to-day management and long-term planning with the highest international standards.
These leadership changes signal a deliberate shift in ONDA’s management approach—one rooted in internal continuity rather than external recruitment. By elevating individuals who have grown within the organization, ONDA is betting on institutional knowledge and proven track records to steer the sector through a pivotal phase. Morocco’s aviation industry is bracing for a period of intense activity, from hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 to co-organizing the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The new appointments reflect a strategic commitment to readiness and resilience as the nation positions itself as a central hub for global air travel.
