Air Arabia inaugurated a new air base at Tetouan's Saniat R'mel airport on Tuesday. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures including the Wali of the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region, Younes Tazi, and the Managing Director of Air Arabia Maroc, Laila Mechbal. Mechbal highlighted the significance of this expansion, which introduces 13 direct flights to five European destinations: Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, and Brussels. She emphasized Tetouan's growing appeal as a tourist destination, particularly due to its proximity to Chefchaouen. This marks the opening of Air Arabia's sixth air base in Morocco. Youssef Bennani, Director of Marketing and Sales at ONDA, emphasized that the new base caters to the growing demand for air travel. He noted that Saniat R'mel airport saw a significant increase in passengers in 2023, with 253,552 passengers – a 35% jump from the previous year. Moncef Al-Toub, Chairman of the Tetouan Provincial Tourism Board, echoed the sentiment, welcoming the positive impact the new base will have on tourism and commerce in the region. He specifically highlighted the importance of the new routes connecting Tétouan to Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga in boosting the local economy. Saniat R'mel airport, located 7 kilometers from Tetouan, has seen a steady rise in traffic. The airport now offers diversified air services with airlines like Royal Air Maroc, Tui Fly, Ryanair, and Air Nostrum (during peak season) alongside Air Arabia.
