The highly anticipated inaugural flight of Israir Airlines connecting Tel Aviv and Marrakech faced an unexpected setback on Tuesday, failing to take off at the scheduled time. This flight was set to mark the first direct air link between the two cities in over three years.
According to reports from the local press, the delay was attributed to incomplete licensing procedures from the Moroccan authorities. The flight was originally slated for departure from Tel Aviv at 6 PM local time, with an expected arrival in Marrakech around 11 PM Moroccan time.
Over 200 Israeli-Moroccan passengers had already booked their seats for this historic flight, which was intended to symbolize the resumption of direct air travel between Tel Aviv and Marrakech, a route that had been inactive for a significant period. The flight's cancellation due to pending Moroccan licensing has raised questions, particularly since the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdelsamad Guiouh, is reportedly linked to the matter.
Further details indicate that the air transport authority's approval (DTA) has not yet been finalized, which directly contributed to the flight's inability to depart on schedule. One passenger mentioned that the arrival of the inaugural Israir flight from Tel Aviv was planned for 11 PM today, according to the itinerary released by MSC, with the acknowledgment that DTA's licensing remains pending.
This flight's delay comes at a time when it was expected to signify the first direct connection between Tel Aviv and Marrakech following a hiatus of over three years, coinciding with the renewed diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel under the Abraham Accords.
As of now, the reasons for the incomplete licensing remain unclear, and we await further clarification from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and the relevant authorities regarding the flight's status and the timeline for resuming this important air route.
As reported by telegraphe.ma.
