Radio France Internationale<
By Zeenat Hansrod
Morocco cautiously re-opens its borders to the outside world as from 15 July, but only to Moroccan nationals and foreign residents of the kingdom. Only two airlines are authorised to carry out flights between Morocco and some selected destinations, including France, but at a prohibitive price.
“The prices are simply too much. It’s as if we’re paying for the airlines’ losses during the lockdown,” 49-year-old Hassan told RFI after spending the last few days trying to book an air ticket from Paris to Marrakech.
Hassan, a butcher of Moroccan origin, owns his own business and works in and around Paris. He regularly travels, on low cost carriers, to Morocco. But this is the first time he said he is seeing such high prices.
“Last year I paid 560 euros for a Paris-Marrakech return ticket for three people. This summer, for the same period, I will have to pay over 4,000 euros,” he said.
Royal Air Maroc, Morroco’s national airline and the low cost Air Arabia Maroc are the only two airlines allowed to carry flights to and from the kingdom. But not all of Morocco’s airports are opened to travellers. Casablanca, Fes, Rabat, Marrakech Oujda, Nador and Tangiers are the only ones operational at the moment.
“There are many Moroccans living in France who told me they will not be able to go visit their families as they usually do each summer,” Hassan added.
#Maroc 🇲🇦#Communiqué @MarocDiplomatie précisions conditions d’accès au territoire national. 🇲🇦
➡https://t.co/fqO2aTXNDh https://t.co/7RuD8GQSYB
– Ambassade du Royaume du Maroc en France (@AmbaMarocFrance) July 10, 2020
