Israir's Inaugural Flight from Tel Aviv to Marrakech Delayed Due to Licensing Issues

In a disappointing turn of events, Israir's inaugural flight scheduled between Tel Aviv and Marrakech failed to take off today, Tuesday, at the expected time, marking a setback for what was anticipated to be the first direct flight between these two cities. According to reports from the news outlet Code, the flight's delay stemmed from incomplete licensing procedures on the Moroccan side. The flight was originally set 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 reserved their seats on this flight, which was intended to herald the return of direct air travel between Tel Aviv and Marrakech after a hiatus of more than three years. This flight was poised to be the first resumption of direct air service between the two cities since the suspension, but it could not proceed due to the ongoing wait for Moroccan licensing. Sources indicate that the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdel Samad Quiouh, is linked to this issue.

As per the available information shared by Code, the approval from the Directorate of Air Transport (DTA) has not yet been finalized, which prevented the aircraft from departing as planned. In this context, one passenger informed several acquaintances about the latest developments, clarifying that the arrival of Israir's inaugural flight from Tel Aviv was scheduled for 11 PM today, according to the program circulated by MSC, while emphasizing that the licensing from the DTA is still pending.

This delay comes at a time when the flight was expected to represent the first direct connection between Tel Aviv and Marrakech after over three years of suspension, coinciding with the renewed relations between Morocco and Israel as part of the Abraham Accords. As of now, the reasons behind the incomplete licensing remain unclear, and clarity is awaited from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics along with relevant authorities regarding the fate of this flight and when this air route may be resumed.

As reported by telegraphe.ma.