DR ‹ › Ryanair, in collaboration with the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT), has unveiled plans to launch a new base in Rabat by April 2026. This will mark the airline's fifth base in Morocco. The project involves stationing two aircraft and operating 20 routes, with an anticipated investment of $200 million. The initiative aims to boost Rabat's attractiveness as a tourist hub and diversify Morocco's gateway options. The announcement was made on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at Rabat-Salé Airport, with the Minister of Tourism, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, in attendance. She highlighted that this new base aligns with Morocco's tourism strategy and fits within the national roadmap, which views air connectivity as a crucial driver for tourism and regional development. Beginning in the summer of 2026, seven new international routes will link Rabat to Milan-Bergamo, Baden-Baden, Frankfurt-Hahn, Nuremberg, Porto, Pisa, and Valencia. This expansion will result in over 18 weekly flights, adding 79,000 additional seats to the international market and boosting Ryanair's operations from Rabat by more than 49%. For the ONMT, this announcement represents a significant step in establishing Rabat as a premier tourist destination. Achraf Fayda, the Director General of the ONMT, noted that this partnership is part of a broader strategy to promote high-potential destinations in anticipation of major international events, including the 2030 World Cup. Ryanair's CEO, Eddie Wilson, emphasized that this investment increases Ryanair's commitments in Morocco to over $1.6 billion, supporting more than 8,500 direct and indirect jobs. The new base is expected to increase Rabat's capacity by 45% and create over 800 local jobs. This initiative is part of Ryanair's most ambitious summer program in Morocco, with 10.7 million passengers projected across 13 airports nationwide.
