Royal Air Maroc officially launched a new air route on Monday, linking Casablanca to Es-Smara for the first time. Departing from Mohammed V International Airport, this inaugural flight represents a significant step in expanding access to Morocco’s southern provinces and strengthening national territorial connectivity.
Upon arriving in Es-Smara, Morocco’s Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, welcomed the swift rollout of the route, made possible in under six months through a coordinated effort among key institutions. He emphasized the importance of this connection in reducing regional isolation, improving mobility, and encouraging investment in a province poised to become a key logistics hub in the South.
Kayouh highlighted that this move aligns with King Mohammed VI’s strategic vision to promote the integrated development of the southern provinces. That vision is already taking shape through major infrastructure projects designed to bolster economic and social integration across the Moroccan Sahara and reinforce its role as a gateway to sub-Saharan Africa.
Several infrastructure initiatives were cited by the minister, including the construction of a road between Amgala and Tifariti and a feasibility study for a new logistics zone near the Mauritanian border. Kayouh also revealed that, in coordination with the Royal Armed Forces, the Es-Smara airport will be expanded to accommodate larger aircraft. This upgrade will allow the airport to shift from a category C to a category B facility.
For local authorities, the new flight connection marks a turning point. Brahim Boutoumilate, the governor of Es-Smara province, called the opening of the airport to civilian flights a milestone in regional development. He sees it as a catalyst for real economic integration.
Hamdi Ould Errachid, president of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra Regional Council, echoed that sentiment, noting that Es-Smara is entering a new phase of growth fueled by expanded air travel. According to him, the local population is embracing the new route enthusiastically, viewing it as part of the broader royal strategy for inclusive progress.
Royal Air Maroc is steadily rolling out a comprehensive air network in southern Morocco, now connecting Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, and Agadir to cities such as Laâyoune, Dakhla, Guelmim, Tan-Tan, and, most recently, Es-Smara. The airline now offers 63 flights per week across the region, with an annual seat capacity reaching one million.
This new route is the result of close coordination among the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Ministry of the Interior, Royal Air Maroc, the National Airports Authority (ONDA), the provincial council, and the regional council. The airline will now operate two weekly flights between Casablanca and Es-Smara.
The launch ceremony, which included the traditional water cannon salute, brought together a number of notable figures, including Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra regional governor Abdeslam Bikrat, Major General Mohammed Benlouali, who heads the Southern Zone General Staff, NARSA director Nacer Boulaajoul, as well as elected officials, business leaders, and representatives from government and economic institutions.
