Casablanca Airport is set for the biggest expansion in capacity (Photo: Casablanca Airport)
As one of the three hosts of 2030 FIFA World Cup Football Championship, Morocco has revealed plans to expand its airport capacity to accommodate 80 million passengers annually by 2030, a significant increase from the current 38 million.
This was announced by Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch while speaking in the Parliament, saying that the ambitious initiative aligned with Morocco’s preparations to host the world’s most popular competition in 2030, alongside Spain and Portugal.
Akhannouch said that not only will the airport capacity expansion facilitate the seamless organisation of the football tournament, but also provide a significant boost to the country’s tourism industry.
In his address, Akhannouch outlined the specific upgrades. While Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport will expand its capacity to 23.3 million passengers, other popular tourist destinations such as Marrakech and Agadir will handle 14 million and 6.3 million passengers, respectively, by 2030.
Akhannouch made the announcement even as Morocco reported a record increase in its international tourist arrivals, which crossed the highest-ever mark of 15.9 million visitors in the first 11 months of this year alone and exceeding last year’s total. Akhannouch attributed the growth in part to increased air connectivity.
Akhannouch added that the country’s infrastructure push would extend beyond airports and confirmed plans to extend the country’s high-speed rail network to Marrakech before the World Cup and eventually to Agadir. The railway operator aims to connect 43 cities, covering 87 pc of Morocco’s population by 2040.
The PM said that preparations also include the expansion and renovation of 45 stadiums and training facilities across six host cities, as well as the construction of a new 115,000-seat stadium near Casablanca. The government estimates investments in stadium infrastructure will reach MAD 5 billion (USD 501 million). Akhannouch said that besides hosting the 2030 World Cup, Morocco will also stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, further solidifying its position as a key player in global sports and tourism.