The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) and Air Transat signed, this Wednesday, October 25 in Montreal, a strategic partnership agreement, the first operational measure of which is the opening of a Montreal Marrakech line which will be operational from June 2024.
Alongside the agreement signed at Air Transat headquarters, a side-event was organized by the ONMT for Canadian operators and travel agents and the media, the Office indicates in a press release.
Through this partnership, the second North American company, Air Transat, becomes the only airline in North America to offer direct flights to Marrakech twice a week in summer, on Wednesdays and Saturdays from June to October. and once a week in winter, on Saturdays from November to April, adds the same source.
And to emphasize that the Montreal-Marrakech connection also enriches the existing offer in Morocco, namely the Casablanca-Montreal line operated by the royal Air Maroc, a strategic route for the Oneworld alliance company.
The Montreal-Marrakech line will also be the first point-to-point connection to Marrakech from North America outside the Casablanca hub, specifies the press release, noting that this air line will open up to travelers a wide field of possibilities with easy access towards the seaside resorts of Essaouira, Taghazout and Agadir, but also towards the mountain and ecotourism destinations (Azilal, Béni Mellal, etc.), in the South (Ouarzazate, Zagora and Merzouga).
Currently, Marrakech represents 24% of Canadian tourist arrivals in Morocco, a rate which could reach 40% if it establishes itself as the main departure city for tours or combined trips.
Over the last 10 years, seat capacity from Canada to Morocco has increased from 87,000 to 164,000 seats per year, an increase of 83%. From January to September 2023, arrivals amounted to 82,590 people with a 23% capacity increase planned for next winter.
In order to optimize the potential of this market, the ONMT also announced the opening of a representative office in Montreal from 2024, specifying that this presence as close as possible to Canadian travel advisors will make it possible to strengthen the commercial strategy of the Office in the continuity of the deployment of its “Light in action” action plan.
