Morocco’s aviation and tourism landscape received a significant boost on April 15, 2026, as British low-cost carrier easyJet officially inaugurated its first-ever operational base in the country, headquartered in Marrakech and equipped with a dedicated fleet of three aircraft stationed year-round in the Red City.
The ceremony brought together Kenton Jarvis, Chief Executive Officer of easyJet; Achraf Fayda, Director of the Moroccan National Tourist Office (MNTO); and Adel El Fakir, Director General of Morocco’s National Airports Office (ONDA) — underscoring the strategic weight of the project for Morocco’s fast-growing tourism industry.
A Strategic Partnership Delivering 4 Million Seats
The base launch is the first major deliverable of the long-term partnership signed between easyJet and the Moroccan National Tourist Office in autumn 2025. Under this agreement, the British carrier will make a record 4 million seats available to Morocco during the base’s first operational year — a milestone that redefines the country’s connectivity with the European market.
The initiative also carries meaningful socio-economic weight: 100 direct jobs have been created around the new base, alongside thousands of indirect positions across airport services, hospitality, and ground logistics. With this expansion, easyJet consolidates its position as the second-largest carrier operating out of Marrakech Menara Airport and further strengthens its footprint across Morocco.
Six Fresh Routes Linking Morocco to Europe This Winter
Marking the occasion, easyJet unveiled six new winter routes to Morocco, bringing its total network to the Kingdom to 58 routes, 30 of which now serve Marrakech alone — a density that few destinations in the region can match.
Routes currently on sale:
- Prague – Marrakech, launching October 25, 2026, operated twice weekly (Wednesday and Sunday).
- Newcastle – Marrakech, launching November 3, 2026, operated twice weekly (Tuesday and Saturday).
- Zurich – Marrakech, launching October 28, 2026, operated twice weekly (Wednesday and Saturday).
Routes going on sale later this spring:
- Nantes – Essaouira
- Bordeaux – Agadir
- Birmingham – Agadir
Year-Round Extensions and Fresh Summer Launches
Beyond the new additions, easyJet is also upgrading several seasonal routes into permanent year-round services, particularly flights from Lille, Strasbourg, and Hamburg to Marrakech — a move that reflects sustained demand for the destination well beyond peak tourist seasons.
Summer 2026 launches include:
- Hamburg – Marrakech: starting May 1, 2026, twice weekly (Tuesday and Friday), now extended into a year-round service.
- Lille – Marrakech: starting May 3, 2026, twice weekly (Wednesday and Sunday).
- Strasbourg – Marrakech: starting May 3, 2026, twice weekly (Thursday and Sunday).
- Geneva – Tangier: starting March 30, 2026, twice weekly (Monday and Thursday).
easyJet holidays: Morocco Among the Fastest-Growing Package Markets
The airline’s expansion also powers the growth of its package-holiday arm, easyJet holidays, for which Morocco has emerged as one of the fastest-growing destinations. In Marrakech alone, travelers can now choose from a curated portfolio of more than 70 hotels ranging from three to five stars — including hand-picked properties featured in the brand’s “Luxury Collection,” launched in the United Kingdom in October 2025 and welcoming its first guests in April 2026.
CEO’s Remarks: 20 Years and 20 Million Passengers
Speaking at the inauguration, Kenton Jarvis, CEO of easyJet, described the launch as a defining chapter in the carrier’s Moroccan journey, noting that the milestone coincides with the airline’s twentieth anniversary of operations in the country and the cumulative benchmark of 20 million passengers flown to and from Morocco during that period. He emphasized that the new base significantly expands travel opportunities for both airline and holiday customers while contributing directly to Morocco’s economic development through tourism growth and local job creation.
easyJet in Morocco: Key Figures
- Operations launched: 2006
- #2 airline at Marrakech Menara Airport
- #3 airline across Morocco
- Network: 47 routes connecting Morocco to Europe, serving 5 local airports — Marrakech, Agadir, Rabat, Essaouira, and Tangier
- Largest carrier flying to Morocco from the United Kingdom and Switzerland
Read also:
