Launch of the first direct flight of the Ivorian airline linking Casablanca and Abidjan

Today, Tuesday, in the economic capital, the official announcement of the launch of the first direct flight of the Ivorian airline took place, connecting, from May 14, the cities of Casablanca and Abidjan.

This new airline, announced during an official ceremony held in the economic capital in the presence of officials from both countries, aims to strengthen relations between Morocco and Ivory Coast, and responds to the growing demand for these flights.

In this context, the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Abdellah Jalil, stressed that this air link marks the beginning of a new era of cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

He explained, in a speech delivered by the secretary general of the ministry, that this air link will contribute, by facilitating commercial exchanges, to the strengthening of relations between the two peoples and to the promotion of the economic and social development of the two countries.

He added that this clearly illustrates the bold vision launched by Morocco since the beginning of the 21st century, consisting mainly of a policy of liberalization and development of the air transport sector, which resulted in the conclusion of a series of agreements free air services, such as the air agreement signed on March 9, 2013 between Morocco and Ivory Coast, which provides for the operation of flights without determining frequencies, capacities and airports concerned.

Thanks to this policy, the minister adds that Moroccan airspace has experienced a very significant air transport movement, offering travelers a wide range of air offers and services at affordable prices and at convenient times, which has helped improve Morocco’s international connectivity and strengthen its position as a tourist destination of choice.

In this regard, the recorded figures testify to the success of cooperation in the air link between Morocco and Ivory Coast, with a number of passengers between the two countries growing strongly, exceeding 140,000 passengers in 2023, confirming that these results obtained reflect the positive impact of the liberalization policy carried out by Morocco, which has proven its commitment to improving air connectivity at the regional level.

For his part, the Ivorian Minister of Transport, Amadou Koné, declared to the Moroccan Press Agency that this air connection is the fruit of a fruitful cooperation between the Ivorian airline and Royal Air Maroc, stressing that it comes after growing interest in this destination which links Morocco to Ivory Coast.

In this context, he stressed the need to invest in strengthening economic, commercial and fraternal cooperation relations deeply rooted in history between the two countries.

In a similar statement, the general director of the Ivorian airline, Laurent Loukou, affirmed that Morocco and Ivory Coast maintain old relations, adding that this new air link will contribute to strengthening this strong relationship between the two countries and to develop commercial relations, as well as to bring the two peoples closer together, within the framework of the solid partnership existing between Royal Air Maroc and its Ivorian counterpart.

On this occasion, an agency of the Ivorian airline was also inaugurated today in Casablanca with the aim of ensuring four weekly flights departing from the economic capital Casablanca to the Ivorian capital Abidjan, on Tuesdays and Fridays at 7:25 p.m. and Thursdays and Sundays from 3:35 p.m.