Ryanair, the low-cost airline, continues its expansion with the inauguration of a new base in Tangier this Tuesday, in partnership with the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT).
The event was marked by a ceremony led by the Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social Economy, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, alongside regional and local authorities and tourism professionals.
This new base in Tangier, Ryanair’s fourth in Morocco, will station two aircraft and operate 25 routes, including 13 new connections to eight new European cities and five new Moroccan destinations for the summer of 2024.
Beyond enhancing connectivity, this $200 million investment will significantly impact local employment, creating 600 jobs, including 60 highly skilled positions such as pilots and cabin crew. Minister Ammor emphasized that this new base illustrates the exceptional growth of Morocco’s tourism sector under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, particularly through the tourism roadmap that prioritizes air travel. She stated, “Thanks to this enhanced connectivity, Tangier is ideally positioned to become a leading tourist destination.”
Minister Ammor also highlighted that “this significant investment by Ryanair reflects Morocco’s growing attractiveness and the confidence our partners have in our country,” adding that “such strong partnerships pave the way for achieving our ambition to make Morocco one of the world’s top tourist destinations.”
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are delighted to officially launch our new base in Tangier, representing a $200 million investment and our fourth base in Morocco. This base is part of our record S24 program (April to September), which will see Ryanair operating over 170 routes across the Kingdom, boosting tourism and connectivity.”
Ryanair plans a record program for the summer of 2024, operating from 12 Moroccan airports and transporting over 5 million passengers (+31% growth) to, from, and within Morocco.
Ryanair’s investment in Moroccan aircraft exceeds $1.4 billion, supporting over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs and contributing to the economic growth of 12 cities, including Rabat, Marrakech, Fes, Agadir, Tetouan, Essaouira, and Nador.
Tangier Airport is connected to 37 international destinations, offering 187 weekly frequencies, including 20 destinations served by Ryanair with 70 frequencies. It also connects to 8 domestic destinations with 24 weekly frequencies, 5 of which are served by Ryanair with 12 frequencies.
