Royal Air Maroc (RAM) inaugurated its new direct air route between Casablanca and Essaouira on Wednesday, October 28, marking another step toward strengthening domestic air connectivity and improving links between regions across the Kingdom.
The new service is part of efforts to facilitate travel for citizens while supporting tourism and economic development across the regions.
The route is the result of a partnership between the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Marrakech-Safi Regional Wilaya, the Marrakech-Safi Regional Council and national carrier Royal Air Maroc. It will enter service on November 1, 2026, with two return flights per week and a fixed, subsidized economy-class fare of 400 dirhams per trip.
André Azoulay, adviser to King Mohammed VI and founding president of the Essaouira-Mogador Association, said the new air link would help develop tourism, promote Essaouira and raise Morocco’s international profile by showcasing a city whose history, memory and civilization deserve to be better known and shared.
Transport and Logistics Minister Abdessamad Kayouh said the launch was part of RAM’s strategy through 2030, which aims to strengthen links between Casablanca and other cities across the Kingdom and make air travel more accessible through affordable fares.
The initiative is one of several operations undertaken by RAM to expand its presence at airports across the Kingdom and support tourism and economic activity, Kayouh told the press. He cited routes connecting Casablanca with Dakhla, Laayoune, Ouarzazate, Zagora, Errachidia, Tan-Tan and Boulemane.
He also stressed the importance of the new route, particularly as RAM is expected to receive new-generation jet aircraft that should reduce the journey time to less than 30 minutes.
Essaouira is one of the Kingdom’s leading cultural and tourist destinations, thanks to its rich historical heritage, natural and cultural attractions and events that draw national and international attention.
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Flights will operate on Wednesdays and Sundays. From Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, Wednesday flights are scheduled to depart at 16:00 and arrive in Essaouira at 17:20. Sunday flights will leave at 08:20 and arrive at 09:40.
From Essaouira, Wednesday flights will depart at 18:00 and arrive in Casablanca at 19:20. Sunday services will leave at 10:20 and land in Casablanca at 11:40.
Beyond providing a direct link between the two cities, the new service will connect Essaouira to RAM’s domestic and international air network through Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, the airline’s main hub, which links the Kingdom to 86 international destinations.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Jalal Charaf, minister of Tourism, Handicrafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, and Essaouira Governor Mohammed Rachid, as well as several civilian and military figures, elected officials, regional representatives and economic and institutional stakeholders.
