Air Transat inaugurated its new direct route between Montreal and Marrakech on Thursday, marking a significant milestone as the first direct flight connecting Marrakech to North America. The arrival of the inaugural flight was celebrated by the Canadian Ambassador to Morocco.
The flight was greeted by a team from the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) and the Regional Tourism Council (CRT) of Marrakech-Safi.
Sebastian Ponce, Air Transat’s Revenue Director, and Joseph Adamo, Transat’s Sales and Marketing Director, were part of this first flight, underscoring the airline’s commitment to this new route as a crucial step in the ONMT’s “Light In Action” strategy to capture the North American market.
Canada has emerged as an increasingly important market. Over the past decade, seat capacity from Canada to Morocco has surged by 87%, growing from 87,000 to 164,000 seats annually, according to ONMT.
On October 25, 2023, ONMT and Air Transat signed a strategic partnership agreement, with the inaugural Montreal-Marrakech route being the first operational measure.
Air Transat is now the second North American airline to operate in Morocco (following Air Canada) and the only one offering direct flights to Marrakech, with services twice a week in summer and once a week in winter.
As Canada’s leading vacation airline, Air Transat has been recognized as the best leisure airline in the world in 2023 by Skytrax. This new route is expected to boost tourism in Marrakech, providing travelers with diverse options including beach resorts in Essaouira, Taghazout, and Agadir, mountain and ecotourism destinations in Azilal and Béni Mellal, and cultural city breaks in Casablanca, Rabat, Meknes, and Fes.
To celebrate the inaugural flight, ONMT is organizing a Fam trip for Transat’s top management from June 13 to 16. Meetings with the National Tourism Confederation and the Regional Tourism Council of Marrakech-Safi are planned to strengthen relationships with operators and lay the foundation for a fruitful collaboration in Morocco’s tourism sector.
