Passengers who have recently travelled to parts of central and east Africa will no longer be allowed to board Royal Air Maroc flights to the United States, as Washington steps up efforts to stop the spread of Ebola.
The Moroccan airline said anyone who has been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda or South Sudan within 21 days of their planned arrival in the US will be barred from travelling on its US-bound flights.
Royal Air Maroc said some exceptions may apply under rules set by US authorities. It urged affected passengers to check whether they are eligible to travel before heading to the airport.
The move follows emergency measures announced by US health officials after a growing Ebola outbreak in the region.
Passengers who are still allowed to enter the US may be required to arrive through one of four airports: Washington Dulles, Atlanta, Houston or New York’s JFK Airport. They will also face extra health checks on arrival.
“The airlines will work directly with affected travellers to rebook their flights,” the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
Health officials are closely watching the outbreak, which the World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency on 17 May.
Unlike previous major Ebola outbreaks, the current one is linked to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus, for which there is no approved vaccine.
The DRC remains the hardest-hit country. Authorities there have reported 125 confirmed cases and 17 deaths, along with more than 900 suspected cases. Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death, with some infections linked to people crossing the border from the DRC.
South Sudan has also been included in the travel restrictions because of concerns about cross-border movement and its limited healthcare system.
Ebola is a serious disease that spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or animals. It can cause severe fever, bleeding and organ failure.
The restrictions are likely to create extra work for Royal Air Maroc, which serves as a major travel hub linking Africa and North America through Casablanca.
The airline is also preparing for a busy summer travel period. It recently announced 32 special flights to carry Moroccan football fans to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
