Irish airline Ryanair inaugurated on Sunday a new flight connection between Ouarzazate and Barcelona which will operate twice a week as part of its 2023 summer program.
The inaugural flight of this new air connection, aimed to boost the international network of Ryanair, arrived at Ouarzazate airport from the Catalan capital with 81 passengers on board.
On this occasion, a ceremony was held in the presence of the Secretary General of the Prefecture of the province of Ouarzazate, Omar Benlimame, and several local officials.
In this regard, the Deputy Director of Ouarzazate airport, Ahmed Errouhi, commended the inauguration of this new air connection, which is part of the revival of international air traffic following the Covid pandemic.
Errouhi stressed that passenger traffic has recorded a significant increase in Ouarzazate airport in the first two months of this year compared to the first two months of 2022, noting that growth is expected to continue as four new weekly connections, including two to Spain and two others to the UK, were inaugurated as well.
For his part, the Deputy Provincial Delegate of Tourism, Mohamed Hariti, stated that this new air connection between Ouarzazate and Barcelona is expected to give a new dynamic to tourism at the provincial level, stressing that this launch is the outcome of the efforts and joint action of the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), as well as several actors and provincial officials.
In a similar context, the President of the Draa-Tafilalet Regional Council of Tourism (CRT), Mohamed Dakhchi, highlighted the importance of this new flight connection, as it will allow more foreign tourists to land in Ouarzazate, a destination with huge and promising tourism potential.
Several foreign tourists who arrived on board this inaugural flight expressed their joy at the launch of this new airline connecting Barcelona and Ouarzazate, commending the warm welcome they received from airport officials and local authorities.
Earlier in February, the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) announced an expanded program covering eight Moroccan tourist destinations to support preparations for the summer season.
In this regard, the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) has encouraged the opening of 35 new air connections with 10 airlines for the 2023 summer season.