After a flight of nearly one hour and 50 minutes, the RAM plane landed on the tarmac of Hassan 1er airport in Laayoune, with 96 passengers on board, before proceeding to board the passengers departing from the city.
Departures from Rabat Salé airport are scheduled for 1:15 p.m., with an expected arrival at Hassan 1er airport in Laayoune at 3:10 p.m., while return flights will leave Laayoune at 4 p.m. to arrive in Rabat at 5:50 p.m.
A ceremony was organized on this occasion, in the presence of the Secretary General of the region’s wilaya, Larbi Lamaghari and the police prefect of Laâyoune, Hassan Abou Dahab, as well as elected officials and representatives of local authorities.
In a statement to MAP, the interim commander of this airport platform, Salma Alaya, said he was happy for the relaunch of this air line operated by RAM between Rabat and Laayoune, at the rate of two flights per week.
Mr. Alaya also stressed that this new air service aims to strengthen the air offer at this airport, which has shown sustained momentum in recent years, in terms of growth in national air traffic.
The number of passengers passing through Hassan 1er airport in Laayoune during the first five months of the current year recorded an increase of 23% compared to the same period in 2023, he said.
Regarding air links, Mr. Alaya noted that Laayoune airport is currently connected to an international destination (Las Palmas), in addition to domestic flights connecting with Agadir, Casablanca and Dakhla.
For his part, the President of the Council of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errachid, indicated that this flight marks the resumption of this national air service in this airport platform, noting that it will further strengthen the attractiveness of this part of the national territory.
Mr. Ould Errachid also noted that the resumption of this flight is part of the implementation and renewal of a partnership agreement between RAM, the Regional Council, the Department of Tourism, the Agency for the Promotion and Economic and Social Development of the Southern Provinces of the Kingdom (APDS) and the Cherifian Phosphate Office Group (OCP).
After recalling that this service will meet the growing demand of passengers, he announced that other domestic flights will be launched to Marrakech and Fez, in addition to a new international line.
Approached by MAP, passengers of this first flight expressed their joy at being able to travel directly between Rabat and Laayoune, stressing that the trip took place in good conditions.
It should be noted that for the month of May alone, air traffic at Hassan 1er airport in Laayoune increased by 6% to 24,641 passengers, compared to 23,286 travelers during the same period a year earlier.
2024-08-27 06:52:00