• Five-year deal includes a €150 million investment and three Airbus aircraft

• Partnership to raise flights to Morocco by 17 % starting in 2026

• Move supports Morocco’s tourism growth and strengthens easyJet’s regional footprint

The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) and British low-cost airline easyJet signed a five-year strategic partnership agreement on November 17. The deal provides for the establishment of the carrier’s first base outside Europe. EasyJet plans to invest €150 million in the purchase of three Airbus aircraft dedicated to the project, which is expected to generate 100 direct jobs.

According to details reported in the Moroccan press, the partnership will raise easyJet’s number of flights to the North African country by 17 % from 2026, along with an expansion of its travel offer through easyJet Holidays. The agreement confirms announcements the airline had already made in October.

A boost for Moroccan tourism

This new partnership offers an opportunity for Morocco’s tourism sector, which represents nearly 7 % of national GDP. With easyJet set to increase flight options and improve air connectivity between Moroccan cities and several European capitals, the agreement could raise international arrivals and strengthen the country’s position as Africa’s leading tourism destination.

Morocco welcomed 17.4 million tourists in 2024, an increase of 2.9 million compared with 2023. This allowed the country to become the continent’s top destination, ahead of Egypt, which recorded around 16 million arrivals. For 2025, authorities have set a target of 18 million visitors according to the report on public institutions accompanying the 2026 draft Finance Bill. Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor said 16.6 million arrivals had already been recorded by the end of October, just ahead of the high holiday season, usually marked by strong demand from Europe and the Gulf.

More broadly, Moroccan authorities have set ambitious goals for tourism and aviation over the next 5 to 10 years. They aim for 26 million tourists per year by 2030, which would place the country among the world’s top 15 destinations. The government also projects 60 million travelers across all Moroccan airports by 2030 and 90 million by 2035. Total flows reached 32 million travelers in 2024, up from 27 million in 2023.

A consolidation opportunity for easyJet

For easyJet, the new base will help consolidate its footprint not only in the Moroccan market but also across the North African region. The airline currently operates flights to five airports in the country: Marrakech, Agadir, Rabat, Essaouira, and Tangier. Since launching service in 2006, it has grown to become the third-largest airline in Morocco and the second in Marrakech.

“There is no doubt that Morocco is a key market for easyJet: we are the leading carrier to Morocco from the United Kingdom and Switzerland. It is our fastest-growing market outside Europe and a major destination for easyJet Holidays customers,” said CEO Kenton Jarvis in October.

Alongside the launch of the base in 2026, easyJet plans to open four new routes next year, including Hamburg, Lille, and Strasbourg to Marrakech, and Geneva to Tangier. This will bring its total number of routes to Morocco to 46, including 24 destinations served from Marrakech. Over 20 years of operations in the country, the airline reports transporting 20 million passengers on departures and arrivals.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this November, easyJet has a total fleet of 190 aircraft. In fiscal year 2023/2024, it posted a net profit of 452 million pounds (about €512.6 million), up nearly 40 % from the previous year.

Espoir Olodo