Rusia abrirá nuevas conexiones aéreas con Marruecos
More Casablanca-Moscow connections. This is the aim of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, which has issued a communiqué to the heads of the country's airlines. It invited them to reflect on the opening of new air services in eleven countries, including the Kingdom of Morocco.
"I ask the heads of airlines to submit proposals to the Department of Transport Regulation and International Cooperation of the Federal Air Transport Agency for the development of air transport in the following countries: Myanmar, Malaysia, South Africa, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia," the Russian agency published.
In any case, these are not Moscow's first connections to Rabat. Russian airlines S7 Airlines and Aeroflot have already opened flights to Morocco in 2021. In the case of S7 Airlines, the company has offered a weekly flight from 30 April 2021 between Moscow-Domodedovo airport and Mohammed V airport in Casablanca. The same service provided by Aeroflot, in its case, connecting Moscow-Sheremetyevo airport and Agadir Al Massira airport.
The Russian capital has been an important hub for connecting with the Moroccan kingdom, not only to establish connections with Russia, but also to facilitate connections to Eastern and Southern Europe. This is the case of Royal Air Maroc, which has established three weekly Casablanca-Moscow flights since 2011 and has partnered with S7 Airlines and Aeroflot to increase its presence in Eastern Europe.
The Russian economy, which is suffering from Western sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, is getting a shot in the arm, but the Moroccan economy is also getting some breathing space. The new air links with Morocco could boost Moroccan tourism, one of the country's economic engines, with an increase in Russian visitor arrivals to the North African country.
An increase in revenue for Morocco at a key moment for its tourism: the start of the summer season without any restrictions due to Covid-19 and the recovery of foreign travel by Russians. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), counted 7.5 million tourist stays abroad between January and September 2020, an increase of 43% compared to the previous year. In the case of Morocco, more than 40,000 Russian citizens visited the Kingdom in 2019, according to the country's Tourism Observatory.
In fact, boosting tourism is on the roadmap of Aziz Akhannouch's executive. The Moroccan government plans to reach 17.5 million tourists and generate revenues of 11 billion euros within four years, culminating in 2026. To this end, Rabat plans to strengthen air services with more international connections.
