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Travel and transport

By air

Air travel to Morocco is entering a new era. Until 2006, two airlines – Royal Air Maroc and British Airways – had the monopoly on flights between the UK and Morocco. Prices were comparatively high and timetables were not always convenient. All this has now changed as part of the Moroccan Government’s push to boost tourist arrivals.

Morocco is now part of the EU ‘Open Skies’ regime and any EU-registered airline is free to fly into the country at any price, thus opening the floodgates for no-frills carriers. Travel information company OAG predicts 99 flights a week between London and Marrakech alone. Passengers can now choose between RyanAir, Thomson Fly, easyJet and Air Maroc’s low-cost subsidiary, Atlas Blue, who cover the major UK airports between them into Marrakech, Fez, Agadir and Casablanca.

Price wars

The current aggressive fare war between the carriers is benefiting the customer, as well as owners of investment property in Morocco. EasyJet was the first airline to fly to Morocco under ‘Open Skies’, from London Gatwick to Marrakech (taking approximately three-and-a-half hours) in July 2006. EasyJet launched a Madrid to Casablanca route in February 2007. RyanAir currently flies into Marrakech and Fez from London Luton, and also into Marrakech from Girona (Barcelona). They have cemented a five-year agreement with the Government of Morocco to develop low-cost air access to the country from their bases throughout Europe.

By sea

Morocco is accessible by sea from Spain on either high-speed catamarans and hydrofoils or more leisurely ferry crossings. Travel time from Algeciras to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta (perfect for a tax-free petrol fill-up) is 35 minutes by hydrofoil and from Algeciras to the Moroccan city of Tangier takes one hour by fast ferry or two-and-a-half hours by the slower alternative. Crossings are regular with up to 20 per day in the summer.

By tunnel

Work on a new 39km route under the water between Spain and Tangier could begin in 2008. A tunnel connecting the two continents has been agreed and construction is expected to take three years.

Travel information

Holders of UK, US, Irish, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or any EU country passports do not need a visa to enter Morocco for up to 90 days. However, it must be valid for at least six months beyond date of entry. There are no inoculations officially required or recommended for travellers.

Related items

Documents and Reports

	Morocco property investment report (386Kb)
	Morocco country guide (954Kb)
	Morocco property buying guide (828Kb)
Documents and Reports

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