Ryanair relies on the Moroccan community in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The Irish airline aims to become the largest airline in the kingdom, overtaking Royal Air Maroc. Ryanair expects to carry five million passengers at Moroccan airports this summer, a 33% increase compared to last year.

Read also: Ryanair promises huge investments in Morocco

The airline is determined to establish a permanent presence in North Africa. Last week, Ryanair opened its fourth base in Tangier, a major step in its expansion plans. The company has already invested €1.3 billion in Morocco, mainly in new aircraft. Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair DAC, stressed the good relationship with the Moroccan government and sees many opportunities in the kingdom due to the growth of the economy, tourism and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

“Our growth in Morocco is good news for the large Moroccan community in Belgium, but also in France, Spain and the Netherlands,” stressed the director. The low-cost airline now offers 76 flights a week between Belgium and Morocco. “This is an important market for us: these migrant workers visit their families and friends back home. It reminds me of our early years in Ireland. The Irish aviation market has grown in part thanks to the large number of expatriates working in the UK. At first we thought that many of these migrants would never see Ireland again, but in the end, many of them return home almost every weekend thanks to Ryanair. We are now also seeing this kind of behaviour in countries in central and eastern Europe, where economies are maturing, and I think we will see the same in Morocco.”

In December, Ryanair received permission from the Moroccan government to operate domestic flights, a first for a non-European country, and Wilson plans to make the most of this opportunity and improve transport links between the regions.

Read also: Ryanair opens new base in Tangier

However, not everyone welcomes Ryanair’s arrival. Air Arabia and Royal Air Maroc, which have so far dominated the local market, are reluctant to see the Irish low-cost carrier. However, Wilson is not afraid of competition and believes it will be particularly beneficial for Moroccan travellers.