Streamlined Hajj Operations Across Moroccan Airports
In an ambitious effort to facilitate the travel of pilgrims for the Hajj in 2026, Morocco has mobilized several key airports, including Casablanca Mohammed V, Rabat-Salé, Marrakech Menara, Agadir Al Massira, Fès Saïss, Tanger Ibn Battouta, Oujda Angads, Ouarzazate, and Dakhla. The national coordination, as highlighted in a statement from the National Office of Airports (ONDA), aims to ensure a consistent and seamless service throughout all travel routes. A total of 91 flights have been scheduled from these nine airports to the holy cities of Medina and Jeddah, operated primarily by Royal Air Maroc alongside several Saudi airlines.
Royal Air Maroc plays a pivotal role in this national aviation strategy, leveraging its operational capabilities and team to support the extensive logistics required for such a significant pilgrimage. ONDA, in collaboration with various institutional and operational partners, including the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Transport, has ensured comprehensive support for the operation. This collaborative effort involves numerous entities, such as the National Security Directorate, the Royal Gendarmerie, Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration, airlines, ground handlers, and airport operators.
Innovative Passenger Experience and Welfare Initiatives
The operation has been structured around three main priorities: anticipating and regulating passenger flows, continuously improving the travel experience, and enhancing facilities for pilgrims and their families. At Casablanca Mohammed V, which serves as the main operational hub, Terminal 3 has been entirely reconfigured to accommodate Hajj flights, focusing on passenger flow, clarity of pathways, and overall comfort. Dedicated spaces have been created from the terminal's outer access points, complemented by specific signage, information points, orientation devices, and an integrated organization of various travel stages.
The 2026 edition also marks a significant advancement in the 'Tarik Makkah' program, which has been successfully implemented for the fifth consecutive year at Terminal 3 in Casablanca and has, for the first time, been extended to Rabat-Salé Airport. This initiative, coordinated between Moroccan and Saudi authorities, allows pilgrims to complete all necessary Saudi immigration procedures, biometric checks, and baggage handling directly at Moroccan airports, streamlining the travel process significantly. The expansion of 'Tarik Makkah' to Rabat-Salé represents a major step forward, showcasing Morocco's commitment to enhancing the facilitation measures for Hajj pilgrims.
Additionally, ONDA has maintained a dedicated support system available seven days a week throughout the entire period, providing continuous information and responsive assistance to pilgrims and their families via a customer relations center and a specific hotline for Hajj operations. Through these efforts, ONDA reaffirms its capability to manage complex national systems with a strong human element, uniting all stakeholders in the airport chain under a common standard of operational excellence and service quality, fully aligned with the Airports 2030 strategy.
As reported by telquel.ma.
