Low-cost airline Ryanair, in partnership with the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT), announced on Wednesday the opening of a new operational base at Rabat-Salé Airport starting in April 2026, marking its fifth base in Morocco.
The new base will host two aircraft and operate 20 routes, backed by an investment of around $200 million. Seven new international routes will be launched in the summer of 2026, linking Rabat with Milan Bergamo, Baden-Baden, Frankfurt Hahn, Nuremberg, Porto, Pisa, and Valencia.
With this expansion, Ryanair’s overall offering from Rabat will reach more than 18 weekly flights during the first season of operation. The move is expected to add around 79,000 seats to the international market and represent growth of more than 49% in the airline’s operations from Rabat airport.
The announcement was made during a ceremony at Rabat-Salé Airport attended by Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy Fatim-Zahra Ammor. She said the opening of the new base fits within the strong momentum currently characterizing Morocco’s tourism sector, in line with the vision of King Mohammed VI.
Ammor stressed that the investment reflects the national tourism roadmap, which prioritizes air connectivity as a key lever for growth. She added that it also illustrates the confidence of international partners in Morocco’s ambition to establish itself as a world-class tourist destination, while generating tangible economic benefits at the regional level.
For his part, Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said the Rabat base brings the airline’s total investment in Morocco to more than $1.6 billion and supports over 8,500 direct and indirect jobs.
According to Ryanair, the opening of the base will increase Rabat airport’s capacity by 45% and form part of the airline’s most ambitious summer deployment in Morocco. The carrier expects to transport more than 10.7 million passengers across thirteen airports in the Kingdom.
The project is also expected to create more than 800 local jobs, including around 60 highly skilled positions for pilots and cabin crew, further reinforcing Rabat’s role as a growing air transport hub.
