Moroccan airport traffic up 6% in 2008 driven by strong European growth

Newly formed carrier Air Arabia Maroc will begin operations later this year from Casablanca. Air Arabia established the airline to provide domestic services in Morocco and across Europe.

Morocco’s decision to sign up for “open-skies” to benefit its tourism industry continues to reap rewards. Passenger numbers were up a further 6.1% in 2008 to almost 13 million which represents a virtual doubling in just five years. Prior to 2008 traffic had grown by around 15% in each of the last four years.

Source: www.onda.ma

Casablanca’s Mohammed V International airport remains Morocco’s leading airport with over six million passengers for the first time in 2008. Among Morocco’s leading airports only Agadir saw passenger numbers fall slightly for the year as a whole.

Source: www.onda.ma

Domestic demand actually declined by 5.8% in 2008 and now represents just 13% of total traffic, down from 28% a decade ago. International traffic grew by a robust 8.5%. The key French market grew by 7.5% and is still bigger than the rest of Europe combined. However, traffic to and from the rest of Europe grew by more than 10% in 2008.