easyJet Expands Its Presence in Africa
On Wednesday, easyJet officially inaugurated its first operational base in Africa at Marrakesh Menara Airport. This milestone is the result of a strategic partnership established in November 2025 with the Moroccan National Tourism Office. The launch aligns with easyJet’s 20-year celebration of its presence in Morocco, marking a significant advancement in the air connectivity landscape of the kingdom and the enhancement of national tourism efforts.
The new base will host three Airbus aircraft, with a total investment exceeding €150 million, consolidating easyJet's position as the second-largest airline operator in Marrakech. With the establishment of this permanent base, operational year-round, the airline aims to offer a record total of 4 million seats to and from Morocco from the outset of operations. This development is expected to create approximately 100 direct jobs along with thousands of indirect jobs in aviation, tourism, and service sectors. Each stationed aircraft contributes an estimated value of €30 million to the local economy, underscoring the structural role of the air transport sector in regional growth.
Impact on Local Economy and Tourism Growth
In a press statement, Mohsin Chafii Alawi, the regional tourism delegate for the Marrakech-Safi region, emphasized that enhancing air transport is a priority in the tourism roadmap due to its direct impact on visitor numbers and tourism activity. Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in arrivals to Marrakech, and the establishment of this new base in the city will further bolster this momentum and facilitate new air routes.
Kenton Jarvis, the CEO of easyJet, echoed this sentiment, stating that the inauguration of the base in Marrakech stems from a shared vision and close collaboration with Morocco. During the launch event, he highlighted that this initiative represents a pivotal step in expanding the airline's operations in the region, providing additional travel opportunities for customers through both flight routes and tourism packages while supporting the local economy through job creation. Since 2025, easyJet has been operating from five airports in Morocco, namely Marrakech, Agadir, Rabat, Essaouira, and Tangier, and with the new base, the airline plans to offer up to four million seats starting from the first year of operations.
This new base is poised to generate around 100 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs, contributing significantly to the region's prosperity and supporting Morocco's ambition to enhance its status as a premier global tourist destination. Jarvis expressed pride in being a long-term partner with Morocco, focused on enhancing air connectivity, capacity, and sustainable investments.
Additionally, Ashraf Faida, the Director General of the Moroccan National Tourism Office, remarked that this partnership is a significant milestone in their long-term relationship, highlighting that the tourism sector is experiencing very encouraging results. He noted that this momentum is just the beginning of a growth trajectory that extends to 2030. Air transport is a foundational and strategic pillar, crucial for improving connectivity, especially with Europe. The collaboration with easyJet is expected to bolster this dynamic and solidify Morocco's positioning as a major tourist destination, paving the way for new opportunities to develop the air network.
The establishment of this base in Marrakech is part of a medium- to long-term vision, showcasing Morocco's vast potential as a tourist destination and the economic and social impacts of this investment, particularly regarding job creation and revitalizing the city. This base, featuring three aircraft stationed in Marrakech, solidifies easyJet's status as the second-largest airline in the city while enabling Morocco to connect with more European destinations and provide wider travel options for customers.
Furthermore, easyJet announced the launch of three new routes for the upcoming winter season, bringing its total routes to Morocco to 58. These new routes will include Prague to Marrakech, Newcastle to Marrakech, and Zurich to Marrakech, which will be available for booking starting April 15. Additionally, routes to Essaouira from Nantes, Agadir from Bordeaux, and Agadir from Birmingham will commence marketing during the current spring season. Several existing routes operating from Marrakech will also continue year-round, including those to Lille, Strasbourg, and Hamburg.
As reported by 24saa.com.
