Ryanair Invests $200 Million in New Fourth Moroccan Base in Tangier

Rabat – Irish Budget carrier Ryanair announced opening its fourth base in Morocco on Tuesday in Tangier.

The news comes after the airline launched operations at the new base in May 2024. The expansion includes a $200 million investment, two new aircraft, and the launch of 25 routes, of which 13 are entirely new.

The new routes will link Tangier with eight new European cities and five new Moroccan destinations for the summer of 2024, the company said in a statement.

Ryanair is introducing its ultra-low fares on 11 Moroccan domestic routes.

The 13 new offers will cover 8 new international destinations and 5 domestic routes, bringing Ryanair’s network to 25 routes.

The base is projected to create over 600 jobs, including 60 highly paid pilots and cabin crew positions.

In addition, the new base is set to increase Tangier’s capacity by 70% for the summer of 2024, contributing to a record-breaking schedule for Ryanair across 12 Moroccan airports.

The airline projects to transport over 5 million passengers, marking a 31% growth in passenger numbers to, from, and within Morocco.

With the new investment, Ryanair’s total investment in Morocco now surpasses $1.4 billion, underpinning more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in key cities such as Rabat, Marrakesh, Fez, Agadir, Tetouan, Essaouira, and Nador.

Commenting on the news, Ryanair’s CEO Eddie Wilson said in the statement that his company is “delighted to officially launch our new base at Tangier, which represents a $200 million investment and our fourth Moroccan base.”

“This latest base opening is part of our record S24 schedule which will see Ryanair operate over 170 routes across the Kingdom, boosting tourism and connectivity,” he explained.

To celebrate the opening, Ryanair is launching a special seat sale with prices starting at MAD 159 ($15.9) for travel until October 2024.

For her part, Minister of Tourism Fatim-Zahra Ammor said that the opening of Ryanair’s new base in Tangier marks a “significant milestone” in the country’s tourism and economic development strategy.

“The expansion strengthens the position of Tangier and the entire northern region as a choice destination, facilitating the arrival of both national and international tourists,” she added.