Historic Inauguration of Direct Flights from Israel to Morocco

Official Inauguration at Ben Gurion and Arrival in Marrakech-Ménara

A significant milestone in air connectivity between Israel and Morocco was achieved on Wednesday evening, August 19, with the inaugural non-stop flight by Arkia landing at Marrakech-Ménara Airport. This resumption of the route makes Arkia the first Israeli carrier to restore a regular direct service to Morocco since the general suspension of flights in the autumn of 2023.

The departure of this inaugural flight held considerable political and ceremonial significance at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The official event on the tarmac was attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Transportation Miri Regev, the director-general of the Ministry of Transportation Moshe Ben Zaken, the president of the Israeli Airport Authority Yiftah Ron-Tal, and Arkia's CEO Oz Berlowitz.

Ending European Layovers and Revitalizing Tourism Flows

Present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Minister of Transportation Miri Regev, who has Moroccan roots, emphasized the practical and symbolic importance of this reopening, noting that travelers and the Israeli community will no longer have to endure lengthy layovers in Paris, Madrid, or other European hubs to reach Morocco.

The Tel Aviv-Marrakech route will operate with two weekly flights utilizing single-aisle Airbus aircraft, with an estimated flight time of around six hours. The operational reinstatement is the culmination of several months of technical discussions conducted under the auspices of the Civil Aviation Authority, led by Shmuel Zakai, and in close coordination with security and civil aviation services in Morocco.

This first flight marks the end of nearly thirty-six months without direct connections, which were suspended following the events of October 7, 2023, for security reasons. Prior to this suspension, air traffic between the two countries included up to five regular and seasonal routes operated jointly by Royal Air Maroc, El Al, Israir, and Arkia, connecting Casablanca, Marrakech, and Essaouira to Tel Aviv.

The return of Arkia on the Marrakech route paves the way for a revitalization of tourism, cultural, and family exchanges, providing direct access to travel agencies and passengers from both sides while sketching the preliminary outlines for future bilateral cooperation.

As reported by israelvalley.com.