Inaugural Flight from Tel Aviv to Marrakech Fails to Depart Due to Licensing Delays

The much-anticipated inaugural flight of Israir between Tel Aviv and Marrakech was unable to take off as scheduled on Tuesday. This flight was set to mark the first direct air connection between the two cities in over three years, but unforeseen circumstances led to its delay.

According to reports from the Moroccan newspaper, Code, the primary reason for the cancellation was the incomplete licensing procedures from the Moroccan authorities. The flight was slated to depart from Tel Aviv at 6 PM local time and was expected to arrive in Marrakech around 11 PM Moroccan time. Over 200 passengers, primarily of Moroccan-Israeli descent, had booked their seats on this flight, which was intended to reinstate direct air travel between the two cities.

This flight represented a significant milestone, as it would have been the first resumption of the direct route since the services were halted, but the takeoff was hindered by the ongoing wait for the necessary Moroccan approval. Reports indicate that the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Qaiouh, is closely tied to the matter. The Directorate of Air Transport (DTA) has not yet provided the required approvals, which prevented the aircraft from departing as planned.

In a related development, a traveler shared updates with acquaintances, explaining that the inaugural flight of Israir was scheduled to arrive in Marrakech at 11 PM today, based on the itinerary provided by MSC. However, they emphasized that the DTA's license remains pending.

This delay comes at a time when the flight was expected to symbolize the renewal of direct connections between Tel Aviv and Marrakech, coinciding with the improved relations between Morocco and Israel under the Abraham Accords. As of now, the reasons behind the incomplete licensing remain unclear, and further clarification is awaited from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and other relevant authorities regarding the future of this flight and the timeline for resuming this air route.

As reported by telegraphe.ma.