More and more people are traveling to Morocco. In fact, according to figures from the General Directorate of National Security, the number of tourist arrivals at national borders grew by 10 percent in January 2017 compared to the previous year. Foreign tourists increaded by 13 percent while nationals residing abroad saw a 7 percent boost. American tourists traveling to the African country increased by 29 percent.
So airline Royal Air Maroc (RAM) announcing it will soon offer a direct flight from Miami is definitely a good move. The flight will fly from Miami International Airport to Casablanca starting April 3, 2019.
The new route will mark Miami International Airport’s (MIA) first passenger flights to Africa since 2000, the South Florida Business Journal reported.
Carriers have cut direct flights from Miami to Africa for various reasons.
“It has always been difficult for U.S. carriers to operate in some parts of Africa, particularly parts of West Africa,” aviation consultant Robert Mann said, according to The Street. “The issue with some West African nations has always been the problem of doing business. It’s still difficult dealing with the airports and the handling companies. There are a lot of issues with logistics on the ground and you can have a tough time finding places where you can put crews up, because of security issues.”
The Moroccan national carrier, considered Morocco’s largest airline, will operate three weekly round trips between MIA and Mohammed V International Airport. Fights will depart Casablanca at 11:20 a.m. Eastern Time and arrive at MIA at 7:05 p.m.; then depart MIA at 8:45 p.m. and arrive in Casablanca at 5:55 a.m. the following day.
“We have long sought to re-establish nonstop passenger service to Africa, and to accomplish that with an airline and a destination of this caliber is an added bonus,” Miami-Dade Aviation Director Lester Sola said. The new-generation Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which accommodates 18 business class- and 255 economy-class passengers, will be used during these flights.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said: “I offer my congratulations and thanks to Royal Air Maroc for its decision to make Miami its first destination in Florida. Casablanca is one of the most historic, picturesque and influential cities in Africa, and we are proud to establish this first-ever connection between our two world cities,” he said.
RAM, which operates in more than 90 destinations with 55 airplanes, wants to operate the flight for at least two years, reported Morocco World News.
RAM, formed in 1957, is fully owned by the government of Morocco, and has its headquarters on the grounds of Casablanca-Anfa Airport. It has scheduled international flights to Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. According to a press release, RAM “is one of only 42 in the world certified as a 4-Star Airline by international air transport rating organization SKYTRAX.”
https://twitter.com/AlexInAir/status/1036959686044594182
