Morocco Summer Travel: MRE Flight Prices Soar 55%
Morocco is deploying a massive air operation for the summer season dedicated to Moroccans residing abroad (MREs) with a 55% increase in flights. Despite this abundance, the surge in transport fares continues to frustrate parliamentarians and the diaspora.
The question of purchasing power dominates debates surrounding Operation Marhaba 2026. At the House of Councillors, groups from the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and the Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM) criticized the excessive level of airline tickets and maritime crossings. These elected officials accuse certain international companies of exploiting strong seasonal demand at the expense of travelers’ budgets. They demand a sustainable policy for MREs, refusing to treat citizens residing abroad according to a simple "circumstantial" logic limited to vacation periods.
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Facing these criticisms, the government defends the expansion of its offerings to meet demand. The Minister of Transport and Logistics, Abdessamad Kayouh, confirmed authorization for 58 airlines for the season. The operation provides 2,403 weekly routes connecting national infrastructure to 160 airports spread across 61 countries. "This represents a 55% increase in the number of weekly flights compared to last summer," the minister detailed. This strategy relies on the market opening policy established in 2006, promoting competition with low-cost carriers.
The effort also extends to maritime transport, with ongoing consultations to ensure sufficient ferries from Spain, France, and Italy. However, parliamentarians demand concrete actions to improve reception conditions. They require improved port traffic flow, a drastic reduction in waiting times, and the integration of new technological solutions to relieve congestion at terminals during peak periods.
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This logistical vigilance extends to other entry points to national territory. Elected officials emphasized the importance of the El Guerguerat border crossing, used by travelers arriving from the African continent, which requires better sanitary facilities and adapted assistance spaces. Furthermore, they urge the executive to adopt preventive measures to anticipate and avoid recurring saturation episodes that strike Laâyoune airport every summer.
