First Direct Flight from Tel Aviv to Marrakech Fails to Depart

The inaugural flight of Israir Airlines, scheduled to connect Tel Aviv and Marrakech, did not take off on Tuesday as planned, marking a setback for what was anticipated to be the first direct air link between the two cities in over three years. According to reports from the newspaper 'Code', the delay was attributed to the incomplete licensing procedures from the Moroccan authorities. The flight was expected to embark from Tel Aviv at 6:00 PM local time and reach Marrakech around 11:00 PM Moroccan time.

More than 200 Israeli-Moroccan passengers had booked seats on this flight, which was poised to re-establish direct airline services between Tel Aviv and Marrakech after a lengthy hiatus. This flight represented a significant milestone, being the first resumption of direct air travel between the two cities since the services were suspended. However, the launch was hindered by the ongoing wait for Moroccan approval, with reports indicating that the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Qaiouh, is connected to this matter.

Information obtained by 'Code' suggests that the authorization from the Directorate of Air Transport (DTA) has yet to be finalized, which prevented the aircraft from departing at the scheduled time. In this context, one of the passengers informed acquaintances about the latest developments, noting that the arrival of Israir's inaugural flight from Tel Aviv was programmed for Tuesday at 11:00 PM, as per the schedule disseminated by MSC, while emphasizing that the DTA's authorization is still pending.

The postponement of this flight comes at a time when it was expected to symbolize the first direct connection between Tel Aviv and Marrakech after more than three years of inactivity, coinciding with the renewed relations between Morocco and Israel under the Abraham Accords. As of now, the reasons behind the incomplete licensing remain unclear, and further explanations from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics and relevant authorities regarding the flight's status and the timeline for resuming this air route are eagerly awaited.

As reported by telegraphe.ma.