Royal Air Maroc is due to launch flights to Tel Aviv on December 12th. The news comes after rumors that such flights would be launched in January ultimately failed to materialize. Morocco and Israel signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations almost a year prior on December 10th, 2020.
In the past year or so Israel has normalized relations with a whole host of nations, mostly from the Middle East and Africa, including the United Arab Emirates Bahrain, and others. This has opened the possibility of new routes into Israel, which airlines have been keen to capitalize on.
Heading to Tel Aviv
Royal Air Maroc has become the latest in a wave of national carriers throughout Africa and the Middle East to launch flights to Tel Aviv. The Moroccan flag carrier yesterday revealed that it will begin flying to the Israeli city on December 12th. Initially, the flights will depart Casablanca on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays (with the return departing a day later) as follows,
- AT 228 – Casablanca (CMN) 23:55 – Tel Aviv (TLV) 06:15+1 – 05h20m
- AT 229 – Tel Aviv (TLV) 18:20 – Casablanca (CMN) 23:15 – 05h55m
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According to the airline’s booking engine, it has a different flight schedule for the first day of operation, December 12th. This is scheduled as follows,
- AT 228 – Casablanca (CMN) 09:55 – Tel Aviv (TLV) 16:15 – 05h20m
- AT 229 – Tel Aviv (TLV) 18:20 – Casablanca (CMN) 23:15 – 05h55m
Commenting on the route launch, Royal Air Maroc remarked,
“This new link meets the expectations of the Moroccan community established in Israel, which maintains strong links with its country of origin. It also aims to allow tourists, as well as businesswomen and men, to travel to Morocco or Israel.”
Flying the Boeing 787-9
Royal Air Maroc will use its Boeing 787-9 aircraft for the five-plus hour flights to and from Tel Aviv. The aircraft debuted in the fleet on July 9th, 2016, with the airline holding just four aircraft of the type.
The airline’s seating configuration seats 302 passengers across two cabins. 26 flatbed business seats fill the space between the first and second exits in a 1-2-1 config. Following this are 276 economy sears in a 3-3-3 configuration with a 32-inch pitch according to Seat Guru.
Joining other airlines in Tel Aviv
As mentioned, Royal Air Maroc is just one of many airlines that are starting services to Tel Aviv following the normalization of relations between two countries. Six days before Royal Air Maroc’s arrival, Emirates will also operate its first flight to the city, joining flydubai, Israir, Arkia, El Al, Etihad, and Wizz Air, following a similar agreement as that signed by Israel and the UAE.
According to data from Cirium, three Israeli airlines are already flying between Israel and Morocco. Israir flies from Tel Aviv to Casablanca and Marakesh, as does rival carrier El Al. A third Israeli carrier, Arkia, only flies to Marakesh.
Are you excited to see Royal Air Maroc heading to Israel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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