Airport Guide

History of Marrakech-Menara Airport

Now one of northern Africa's main air transport hubs, Marrakech Airport had humble beginnings.

After being a quiet air field for a few years, it first really took off during the second world war, when it was used by the United States Army Air Force as a logistical hub to support its north African campaign.

Once the fighting had ended, civilian services slowly returned and the airport established itself as an important stopping-off point on the Cairo-Dakar cargo and transport route, linking up with Casablanca and Agadir.

However, it was the launch of cheap flights from Europe to Morocco in the late 1990s that really put Marrakech-Menara Airport on the international aviation map, with the facility now handling in excess of three million passengers a year.

Travelling to Marrakech-Menara Airport

Located just six kilometres south-west of the city centre, Marrakech-Menara Airport boasts excellent public transport links.

Most passengers jetting into Marrakech and looking to head into the city centre make use of the cheap and efficient number 11 bus, which runs from just outside the main terminal building to Djemaa el-Fna, the historic square and marketplace in the old quarter at the heart of the city.

Alternatively, taxis are available for the short trip into downtown Marrakech, as well as to destinations including Agadir, Rabat, Tangier and Casablanca.

Additionally, a number of car hire companies are based at the airport, giving passengers the freedom to explore this part of Morocco in their own time.

Airlines Flying from Marrakech-Menara Airport

Morocco's national carrier Royal Air Maroc offers services to Casablanca and Deauville, as well as to Paris, from Marrakech.

In addition, fellow flag-carriers Iberia and TAP Portugal offer direct flights to Madrid and Lisbon respectively.

However, it is low-cost carriers that now dominate at the airport, offering bargain flights both within the north Africa region as well as to dozens of European destinations.

Ryanair flies to around 20 destinations from Marrakech, including Alicante, Bologna, Bristol, Brussels, East Midlands, Edinburgh, London-Luton, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Porto, Rome, Seville and Valencia.

Meanwhile, rival easyJet offers international flights to Basel, Geneva, London-Gatwick, Lyon, Madrid, Manchester and Paris.

Atlas Blue flies direct to Marrakech from Barcelona, Bordeaux, Brussels, Geneva, Lille, London, Lyon, Madrid, Marseille, Milan, Munich, Nice, Paris and Toulouse, while Air Europa flies from Madrid and Air Mediterranee to Lyon and Paris.

Additionally, Binter Canarias offers a direct link to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, while Germany is well-served by GermanWings and Switzerland by Edelweiss Air.

Furthermore, Norwegian Air Shuttle flies to Oslo and Copenhagen, while direct services between Luxembourg and Marrakech are offered by Luxair.