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Weekly highlights

Air transport: Hard recovery!

I T was to be predictable. No- flights and international flights), i.e.
a recovery rate of 80%. Cumulative
vember was one of the best
months in terms of air traffic.
international traffic since the begin-
The airports of the Kingdom re- ning of the year reached 16.5 million
corded, during the month of Novem- passengers, representing a recovery
ber, a commercial traffic volume of rate of 81%. The Marrakech Menara
1.9 million passengers and 15,341 airport, which is the airport of the first
airport movements, i.e. recovery rates tourist destination, achieved a lower
of 96% and 92% respectively compa- rate, namely a rate of 74% with 4.3
red to the same period of 2019. With million passengers versus 5.8 million
552,953 passengers, the Marrakech in 2019. Agadir as an airport and as a
Menara airport posted a recovery rate destination recovered 86% of its traf-
of 97% in November. The All-Saints fic compared to 2019. It must also be
holidays and the resumption of cultu- said that the reopening of the borders
ral and other events including the took place during the second week of
Marrakech International Film Fes- February, and the companies only be-
tival have contributed to this impro- November was one of the best months in terms of air traffic. The All-Saints holidays and the gan to gradually program their flights
vement. The mild climate during this resumption of cultural and other events had a lot to do with this boom at the end of February, which means
period is a strong argument in favor international air traffic with 1.4 mil- reached 157,687 airport movements almost two months lost during this re-
of the airport of Agadir which recove- lion passengers in November alone, for the first eleven months, which covery year. On the other hand, other
red 108% of its traffic in November. i.e. a recovery rate of 101% compa- represents 82% of airport movements infrastructures such as the airports of
As main tourist destinations, these red to November 2019. Cumulati- recorded during the same period of Oujda and Tangiers have completely
two cities rely heavily on the winter vely (for the 11 months), passengers 2019. Overall, Morocco’s airports recovered their passengers and their
season. In terms of markets, Europe, from Europe have exceeded 13 mil- are struggling to recover traffic from rotations during these last 11 months.
the Middle and East Asia, as well as lion since the reopening of borders. 2019, the reference year. One month The Tetouan airport is even perfor-
North America posted recovery rates The same situation applies for airport from the end of the year, the volume ming better since it has gone from
exceeding 100%. As a reminder, movements which posted a recovery of passengers was 18.4 million com- 39,154 to 168,843 passengers. o
Europe represents more than 83% of rate of 92% in November. This traffic pared to 23 million in 2019 (domestic Badra BERRISSOULE

Morocco-France

“Return to normalcy” in terms of visas

“W RITING a new page in the right direction”, said Nasser
Bourita. The two ministers insisted,
together” of the rela-
during the press briefing, on the histo-
tions between France
and Morocco: Paris and Rabat have ric bilateral ties, of “particular, singu-
shown their desire to renew their rela- lar, and unique importance”. The two
tionship, putting aside recent bones capitals are working to develop their
of contention, in preparation for pre- relationship in view of a state visit by
sident Emmanuel Macron’s state visit the French president, scheduled for the
in early 2023, which had been postpo- “first quarter of 2023”, but the date of
ned many times. As a sign of a desire which has not yet been set. “We want
to return to new bases for the relations to arrive by January at a roadmap that
between the two countries, the French will allow the presidential visit to be
Minister for Europe of Foreign Affairs an ambitious one and for the good of
Catherine Colonna, on a visit to Mo- both countries” said Catherine Colon-
rocco, announced at the headquarters na, before leaving Rabat. After a first
of the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign exchange on November 1, President
Affairs in Rabat “the return to nor- Emmanuel Macron and King Moham-
malcy” in terms of the allocation of vi- med VI spoke again on Wednesday
sas to Moroccan nationals . This “full “Regarding the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, our position is favorable to Morocco. We demons- evening, after the feverish semi-final
cooperation has been effective since trated this at the United Nations even when we were a little alone in wanting to advance some of the France-Morocco World Cup in
last Monday”, specified Catherine ideas,” said the head of French diplomacy Qatar. “We have instructions to pre-
Colonna during a press conference had decided to halve the entry permits by Rabat and decried by Moroccan pare for this very important meeting,
with her counterpart Nasser Bourita, granted to Moroccans in reaction to Francophile circles, poisoned bilate- at the highest level”, assured Bourita,
thus sealing the end of the policy of the kingdom’s reluctance to repatriate ral relations. “Today, the decision (by adding that Paris and Rabat had a
restrictions on the issuance of visas, its nationals who were in an irregu- France) is a unilateral decision that “common vision” on how to develop
introduced by France more than a lar situation in France. This decision, Morocco respects and will not offi- their relationship.o
year ago. In September 2021, Paris which was described as “unjustified” cially comment on, but which is a step A.T.
Friday 23 December 2022