Morocco airports add 1 million passengers as regional conflict cuts eastern routes

Morocco’s airports handled more than 12.3 million passengers in the first four months of 2026, up 9.7% from a year earlier, as rapid growth on African and American routes offset a sharp decline in traffic linked to the Middle East.

International passenger traffic rose 9.5%, while domestic travel increased 11.1%, the Directorate of Financial Studies and Forecasts, or DEPF, said in its latest economic report. Official airport data placed the total at 12.34 million passengers.

Traffic between Morocco and the Americas recorded the fastest regional growth, rising by a combined 23.9%. African routes increased 19.6%, followed by Maghreb services at 13.7% and European connections at 9.6%.

Europe continued to account for more than 80% of Morocco’s international air traffic, limiting the effect of faster percentage growth in smaller markets.

Passenger traffic with the Middle and Far East fell 4.6% over the four-month period after declining 37.5% in April alone. The DEPF linked the contraction to geopolitical disruption in the region, which has affected airline schedules and passenger demand.

Air cargo traffic rose 11.8% to more than 39,500 tonnes, compared with growth of 15.1% during the corresponding period last year. Moroccan airports also recorded 91,128 aircraft movements, an increase of 10.4%.

Maritime activity grew at a slower rate. Moroccan ports handled 63.3 million tonnes of commercial cargo through March, up 4.3%, supported by a 10.7% increase in imports.

Grain traffic rose 33.7%, imported fuel increased 16.9% and coal volumes climbed 17%. New vehicle traffic grew 8.2%, while phosphate and derivative shipments increased 2.8%.

The gains were partly offset by a 30% fall in coastal shipping, a 1.9% decline in exports and a similar drop in container traffic. International road freight units fell 5.8% to 147,535, while passenger traffic through Moroccan ports declined 0.8% to 718,720.