• Morocco hit record 36.3M air passengers in 2025, boosted by AFCON

• Growth seen slowing in 2026; next major event, World Cup, due 2030

• Airport 2030 plan targets 80M passengers, hinges on sector efficiency

Morocco’s air transport sector is heading into a tougher 2026 as it tries to match or beat the record 36.3 million passengers handled in 2025, after a one-off boost from a major growth driver.

The National Airports Office (ONDA) said the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), now under way in the country, drove much of the additional 3.6 million passengers compared with 2024, when traffic stood at 32.7 million.

The next major event expected to generate a similar surge is the FIFA World Cup, but it is still four years away. Tourism is therefore likely to remain the main driver of growth. AFCON also lifted tourism, with Morocco receiving 19.8 million visitors in 2025, up from 17.5 million a year earlier.

Authorities have announced measures to improve air connectivity, including new airline partnerships and Royal Air Maroc’s network expansion. But the scale of the challenge is clearer under the Airport 2030 strategy, which targets 80 million passengers within five years.

An investment plan is under way to expand airport capacity and strengthen the flag carrier. Observers say the real test will be execution and effective coordination across the sector.

Without another major catalyst, growth will depend on faster passenger processing, shorter aircraft turnaround times and improved operational reliability. These factors are seen as critical to the competitiveness of Moroccan airports.

Henoc Dossa