easyJet opens first African base in Marrakech, launches six new routes     

easyJet has opened its first base in Africa at Marrakech Menara Airport, stationing three aircraft as it expands in Morocco after two decades in the market. 

The British low-cost carrier said the move will support year-round operations and comes as it passes 20 million passengers carried in Morocco. The base was unveiled in Marrakech alongside officials from the Moroccan National Tourist Office and airport operator ONDA. 

Chief Executive Kenton Jarvis said Morocco remains a core market for the airline, citing strong demand from European leisure travelers and diaspora traffic.

Marrakech base deepens Morocco footprint 

The new base allows easyJet to deploy three Airbus aircraft throughout the year, lifting capacity across its Moroccan network. The airline expects to offer up to four million seats in the first year of operation. 

The expansion follows a partnership agreement signed with the Moroccan National Tourist Office in late 2025, aimed at boosting inbound tourism from Europe. ONDA has also upgraded infrastructure at Marrakech airport to handle rising passenger volumes.

 easyJet is already one of the largest foreign airlines in Marrakech. It now ranks as the airport’s second-largest operator and the third-largest across Morocco.

Six new routes planned for winter schedule 

Alongside the base launch, easyJet confirmed six new routes set to roll out from late 2026. Flights from Prague, Newcastle and Zurich to Marrakech are already on sale. The Prague service is due to start on Oct. 25, 2026, operating twice weekly, with Newcastle and Zurich following shortly after. 

Additional routes from Nantes to Essaouira, Bordeaux to Agadir and Birmingham to Agadir will open for booking later in the season, widening access to Morocco’s coastal and southern destinations.

Network growth and year-round services 

easyJet began flying to Morocco in 2006 and now operates across five airports: Marrakech, Agadir, Rabat, Essaouira and Tangier. With the new additions, its network will reach 58 routes. 

Several seasonal European routes, including Hamburg, Lille and Strasbourg to Marrakech, will shift to year-round service from 2026, reflecting steady demand beyond peak travel periods. A new Geneva–Tangier route is also set to begin in March 2026 with twice-weekly flights.

Holidays business expands alongside flights 

The airline’s package arm, easyJet holidays, is growing in step with flight capacity. Morocco is one of its fastest-expanding destinations, with Marrakech at the center of its offering. 

The company now lists more than 70 hotels in the city, ranging from midscale to high-end properties. A recently introduced “Luxury Collection” is expected to draw higher-spending travelers from key European markets. 

Jarvis said the Marrakech base will allow easyJet to broaden both leisure and business travel options while supporting tourism and local economic activity.

Founded in 1995 by Stelios Haji-Ioannou, easyJet operates a large short-haul network across Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia, using a single-cabin, low-cost model.