Irish airline Ryanair recently launched a domestic route between Ouarzazate and Tangier, offering two flights per week.
A 180-seat Boeing 737, on the first flight of the new route, arrived at Ouarzazate Airport from Tangier-Ibn Battouta Airport. A ceremony was held at Ouarzazate International Airport in the presence of airport director Ismail Aghouzaf and local officials.
During the ceremony, Aghouzaf stated that the inaugural flight carried 120 passengers and emphasized that this new service will improve air connectivity from Ouarzazate. He told MAP that Ouarzazate Airport received more than 10,000 passengers in March, a 12% increase compared to the same period last year. Aghouzaf added that the new route will positively impact tourism activity in the region.
In December 2023, Ryanair received approval to operate domestic flights in Morocco. As part of this expansion, the airline is launching 11 domestic routes connecting nine Moroccan destinations: Agadir, Errachidia, Essaouira, Fez, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Tangier, and Tetouan. These new flights will help break the isolation of regions like Ouarzazate, Essaouira, or Errachidia, while enabling foreign tourists to extend their stays and visit other cities, thus stimulating tourism across Morocco.
The Irish airline, the leading passenger carrier in Europe, plans to double its annual activity in Morocco to more than 10 million passengers by 2027, according to the Ministry of Tourism, Traditional Industry and Social and Solidarity Economy.