Ryanair's Record Winter Program for Morocco
Ryanair, the leading European airline, has announced its most ambitious winter schedule ever for Morocco, featuring a staggering 5.3 million low-cost seats across 156 routes. This comprehensive winter program, which covers the 2026 season, represents a significant increase of 580,000 seats, marking a 12% rise compared to the previous winter. The airline is establishing a new base in Rabat, its fifth in the Kingdom, and has partnered with the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) and the Moroccan government to enhance air connectivity.
The extensive winter schedule includes connections between Morocco and 14 European countries, covering 13 Moroccan airports, including Fès, Tétouan, Essaouira, Ouarzazate, Dakhla, and Nador. Ryanair plans to base 16 aircraft in Morocco, including two new planes stationed in Rabat, amounting to a total investment of $1.6 billion. The airline aims to offer competitive low fares on these routes as part of its business model.
Seventeen New Routes to Europe
The winter program also introduces 17 new routes to various European cities, with Rabat benefiting from seven new connections, while Marrakech and Agadir will each see five new routes. Some of the newly announced routes include Rabat to Stockholm, Rabat to Kraków, Marrakech to Wrocław, and Agadir to Milan, Nuremberg, Bratislava, and Gdańsk. The opening of the Rabat base will not only enhance the flight offerings from the Moroccan capital but also strengthen connectivity with European markets. These new routes are designed to facilitate access for European tourists to various regions of Morocco, allowing them to enjoy budget-friendly travel options.
Ryanair's substantial investment, amounting to $1.6 billion in its Moroccan fleet, includes $200 million dedicated to the two new aircraft based in Rabat. The airline notes that this program supports over 8,500 local jobs, encompassing 480 positions for pilots and cabin crew. The ONMT views this initiative as a crucial step in enhancing Morocco's air connectivity, emphasizing that it will promote better distribution of tourist flows and contribute to national tourism growth. This strategy aligns with the ONMT's goal of fostering partnerships with airlines to improve capacity in priority markets by providing low-cost seats for travelers.
Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, highlighted Morocco's status as one of the airline's most vital and rapidly growing markets. He expressed confidence that the 2026 winter program would bolster connectivity within Morocco, stimulate tourism from Europe, and support regional economic development. Wilson extended his gratitude to the ONMT, the Moroccan government, and the National Airports Office (ONDA) for their collaboration and commitment to advancing the Moroccan tourism sector. He reiterated Ryanair's dedication to long-term investments in Morocco and its intention to continue expanding traffic, fleet size, and routes within the Kingdom, while maintaining low prices across all its services to Morocco.
As reported by ulysse.com.
