Israir's Inaugural Flight Faces Delays Due to Licensing Issues

The much-anticipated inaugural flight of Israir connecting Tel Aviv and Marrakech encountered unexpected delays today, Tuesday, failing to take off as scheduled. This flight was set to mark the first direct air connection between the two cities in over three years, a significant moment following the resumption of relations between Morocco and Israel under the Abraham Accords.

According to reports from local news outlet Kood, the reason for the flight's cancellation stems from incomplete licensing procedures on the Moroccan side. The flight was initially planned to depart 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 booked their seats on this historic journey, which was intended to herald the return of direct flights between the two cities after a prolonged hiatus.

This flight was poised to be a key milestone in the restoration of direct air travel links, yet it was thwarted by the ongoing wait for Moroccan authorization. Reports indicate that the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdel Samad Kayouh, is involved in this matter. As per the available information from Kood, the approval from the Directorate of Air Transport (DTA) has not yet been finalized, preventing the aircraft from taking off as originally scheduled.

In the meantime, one passenger shared the latest updates with acquaintances, clarifying that the arrival of Israir's inaugural flight from Tel Aviv was scheduled for 11 PM today, according to the itinerary circulated by MSC. However, it was emphasized that the licensing from the Directorate of Air Transport remains pending.

This delay comes at a time when the flight was expected to symbolize the first direct air service between Tel Aviv and Marrakech since the suspension, highlighting the renewed diplomatic ties between Morocco and Israel. As of now, the reasons for the licensing delay remain unclear, and further clarification is awaited from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics as well as relevant authorities regarding the status of this flight and the timeline for resuming this air route.

As reported by telegraphe.ma.