Ryanair is set to open its next Moroccan base in Rabat, marking its fifth hub in the country and signaling another leap forward in the airline’s regional expansion. Starting in April 2026, two aircraft will be stationed in the capital, with plans to launch 20 new routes and a total investment of $200 million.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, December 17, directly from the tarmac of Rabat-Salé Airport. Present for the occasion were Fatim Zahra Ammor, Morocco’s Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy, along with Achraf Fayda, Director General of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT), Imad Barrakad, head of the Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT), and Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson.
For Minister Ammor, the move aligns with Morocco’s broader strategy to expand air connectivity and reinforce its status as a global travel destination. She sees this as a strong vote of confidence from international partners, with tangible economic benefits expected for the regions involved.
Ryanair’s expansion includes seven new international routes from Rabat starting in the summer of 2026. Passengers will gain direct access to destinations like Milan Bergamo, Baden-Baden, Frankfurt Hahn, Nuremberg, Porto, Pisa, and Valencia. With over 18 weekly flights planned from the outset, the airline will add approximately 79,000 extra seats in its first season alone—an increase of nearly 50% in its operations from the Moroccan capital.
Achraf Fayda views the new base as a milestone in opening up more air access points across Morocco while elevating Rabat’s profile as a destination in its own right. He believes the capital offers a compelling blend of history, culture, and accessibility for European travelers, especially with the 2030 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, which Morocco is set to co-host.
This latest investment brings Ryanair’s total financial commitment in Morocco to over $1.6 billion. The airline claims it supports more than 8,500 direct and indirect jobs across the country. CEO Eddie Wilson praised Rabat’s cultural, coastal, and historical assets, crediting the close collaboration with the ONMT for positioning the city as a new gateway to Morocco.
The base is expected to boost Rabat Airport’s capacity by 45% on its own. It forms part of the largest summer program Ryanair has ever launched in Morocco. The airline is projecting to transport over 10.7 million passengers across 13 Moroccan airports during the season. Nearly 800 new jobs will be created, including about 60 skilled positions for air crews.
For the ONMT, this development underscores its leading role in shaping Morocco’s air connectivity strategy. It reinforces the organization’s goal of using air travel as a tool for balanced regional development and international visibility, helping Morocco extend its reach on the global tourism stage.
