Morocco's Airports Experience Remarkable Growth in Passenger Numbers
In a remarkable surge, Morocco's airports welcomed 22,282,997 passengers during the first seven months of 2026, marking an impressive increase of 8.77% compared to the same timeframe last year. This data, released by the National Airports Office (ONDA), highlights a significant uptick in both international and domestic air travel within the country. International passenger traffic constituted the majority of this growth, rising by 8.82% to reach a total of 19,894,489 passengers, while domestic flights also saw a healthy increase of 8.36%, totaling 2,388,508 travelers. These statistics reflect the ongoing recovery and expansion of Morocco's aviation sector, as detailed in ONDA's commercial air traffic report for July 2026.
Casablanca's Mohammed V Airport retained its status as the busiest airport in the nation, processing 6,953,695 passengers. Following closely was Marrakech-Menara Airport, which handled 6,407,303 passengers, while Agadir-Al Massira, Tangier Ibn Battouta, and Rabat-Salé airports recorded 2,179,857, 1,711,764, and 1,446,355 passengers respectively. The international passenger growth was predominantly driven by travelers from Europe, who constituted the largest segment of air traffic with 16,541,007 passengers, revealing a year-on-year increase of 9.29%. Other regions also contributed notable growth, with South America witnessing a remarkable 34.21% rise, North America increasing by 14.54%, and Africa advancing by 13.74%.
Additionally, the number of aircraft movements reached 164,164, a 9.82% increase from the previous year, with Mohammed V Airport accounting for the majority at 55,223 movements. The total air freight transported during this seven-month period amounted to 66,980.55 tons, representing a significant gain of 12.61%. In July alone, the airports collectively managed to handle 3,450,846 passengers, underscoring the robust demand for air travel in Morocco.
Strategic Expansion Plans Ahead of FIFA World Cup 2030
These impressive traffic gains come as Morocco accelerates its plans to expand its airport infrastructure in anticipation of co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. Under the ambitious “Airports 2030” strategy, Morocco aims to enhance its nationwide airport capacity from approximately 34 million to 80 million passengers annually by the year 2030. A landmark agreement signed between the government and ONDA ensures an investment of MAD 38 billion (approximately $3.8 billion) to upgrade the airport network from 2025 to 2030. Central to this expansion is the Mohammed V Airport, where work on a new hub terminal commenced in July 2025. This MAD 15 billion ($1.5 billion) facility is designed to accommodate an additional 20 million passengers each year, bringing the total capacity to 35 million by 2029 and also includes the construction of a new runway.
Marrakech-Menara Airport is set to double its capacity from eight million to 16 million passengers annually, while Agadir-Al Massira's expansion aims to increase its handling capacity from around three million to seven million passengers. Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh has emphasized the importance of these developments in relation to World Cup preparations and the sustained growth of air transport in Morocco. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed its support for the Airports 2030 strategy, recognizing its potential to bolster Morocco's position as a regional aviation hub.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
