5,760 stranded citizens returned to Morocco in December’s exceptional flights, following operations on repatriated flights from three countries, said the government’s spokesperson Mustapha Baitass.
During Monday’s session of parliament’s questions, Baitass addressed the house about the outcomes of the exceptional flights from December 15 to 22.
Since November, Morocco has suspended all incoming passenger flights to the Kingdom due to concerns about the arrival of the new Omicron variant.
Following an apparent decision that left thousands of Moroccans stranded, authorities announced that “exceptional flights” would be operated from Portugal, Turkey, and the UAE.
In addition to their geographic location in Europe and Asia, the three departure points also constitute regional transit zones, allowing Moroccan citizens who are stranded in those areas to easily return home, according to Baitass’ statements.
The passengers on these exceptional flights, ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 passengers per day, undergo a precautionary health process to ensure they are COVID-19-free, including testing and spending a quarantine period in a hotel situated near their final destination, with examinations and surveillance renewed every 48 hours.
Agadir’s hotels received 1,937 beneficiaries; Marrakech hosted 1,550, while 935 were distributed through Casablanca’s hotels.
Authorities provided returnees with flight times at least 48 hours in advance of their departure to facilitate travel arrangements and help them purchase tickets, according to the briefing.
Baitass added that the government guaranteed affordable tickets to enable stranded citizens to return to their homeland.
Additionally, the briefing stated that the public authorities would remain mobilized in order to meet future pandemic challenges, especially in relation to finding appropriate solutions to any problems that may arise due to the epidemiological situation affecting Moroccan citizens abroad.
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