What You Need to Know
Ryanair is set to double its investments in Morocco to over $3 billion by the end of the decade, driven by the country’s growing tourism sector. The airline aims to increase passenger numbers between Europe and Morocco to 20 million by 2030, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup. The expansion includes new routes and operational bases in the country.
Africa. Ryanair plans to double its investments in Morocco to over $3 billion by the end of the current decade, aiming to benefit from the ongoing growth of the tourism sector in the kingdom, according to Eddie Wilson, the airline’s CEO, in an interview with a local source.
The low-cost carrier, the largest in Europe by passenger numbers, seeks to increase the number of travelers between European markets and Morocco to 20 million by 2030, coinciding with the country’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup.
Ryanair began operating in Morocco in 2006, offering international flights to and from several airports in the kingdom. In 2024, it entered the domestic flight market, with total investments to date amounting to $1.6 billion.
The domestic aviation market in the kingdom was previously limited to two companies: the national carrier, Royal Air Maroc, and Air Arabia, a private Moroccan airline affiliated with the UAE’s Air Arabia.
Five Air Bases in Morocco
Wilson explained that Ryanair currently operates flights to 13 airports in Morocco and has five operational bases with 16 aircraft. This setup allows the company, according to his statement, to achieve higher aircraft utilization compared to limiting operations to specific routes only.
Morocco maintained its position as Africa’s top tourist destination last year, with 20 million visitors, marking a 14% annual increase. The country aims to raise the number of tourists to over 26 million by the end of the decade, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Wilson sees Morocco’s hosting of the World Cup as an opportunity for tourism and the economy in general, adding, “It is important for people to access Morocco at an affordable cost, and if they have the chance to see the country, they will return repeatedly.”
The company opened its fifth base in the capital, Rabat, last December, which includes two aircraft with an investment of $200 million. It plans to launch flights to around 20 new European destinations this year.
Regarding the choice of Morocco as a strategic hub, Wilson confirmed that the Open Skies agreement linking Morocco with the European Union was a decisive factor in this selection.
Challenges in Expanding to Arab and African Regions
Regarding expansion into other Arab or African regions, the CEO denied any plans in that direction, explaining that Ryanair is a European company and that the lack of air transport rights makes such expansion currently impossible. He emphasized that the company’s focus is solely on connecting Europe with Morocco, in addition to domestic flights within the kingdom.
Wilson noted that the Moroccan market is experiencing significant growth, attributing this growth to its proximity to the European Union and the diversity of its tourism offerings, as well as the presence of expatriates in various European countries, from Belgium and France to Germany, Italy, and Sweden.
Morocco has expatriates in most EU countries, estimated at around 5 million, who travel year-round between the two shores, peaking during the summer with about 2 million expatriates.
Average Ryanair Ticket Price
The economic model of the Irish airline is based on maximizing aircraft utilization through short turnaround times of no more than 25 minutes, which is enhanced by the domestic flights the company has launched in Morocco, according to Wilson. He added that the average ticket price did not exceed 60 euros last year.
Ryanair has an order for 300 new aircraft, with the first deliveries starting next year. The CEO revealed that doubling the company’s operations in Morocco would only require 16 additional aircraft from this order, which he considered “easily achievable,” expecting deliveries to occur gradually between 2027 and 2034.
Regarding the number of tourists the airline transports to Morocco, Wilson explained that the company currently offers about 11 million seats annually, equivalent to approximately 4 million tourists per year after accounting for round trips. He noted that the company connects Morocco with a network of 240 airports worldwide.
On the experience of domestic flights, Wilson acknowledged the initial challenges but confirmed that travelers are beginning to discover it as an effective and low-cost means of transportation within Morocco. He indicated that the company has launched 10 domestic routes so far, expressing satisfaction with the results and a desire to expand this offering in the future.
Ryanair began operations in Morocco in 2006, initially offering international flights to various airports. In 2024, the airline expanded into the domestic market, with total investments reaching $1.6 billion. The Moroccan aviation market was previously dominated by two carriers, Royal Air Maroc and Air Arabia, but Ryanair’s entry has diversified the landscape.
The Moroccan tourism sector has seen significant growth, attracting 20 million visitors last year, a 14% increase from the previous year. The country aims to host over 26 million tourists by the end of the decade, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup.
