HIBAPRESS – Italy: Abdelatif Elbaz
Activists from the Moroccan community residing in the Italian city of Turin have demanded the opening of a direct air route linking the city to Beni Mellal Airport, considering that this demand reflects a real need for a large segment of Moroccans from the Beni Mellal-Khénifra region residing in northern Italy.
The community confirmed that the absence of this air route forces travelers to rely on distant airports, such as Casablanca or Marrakech, and then cover long distances by land to reach their original cities, which increases travel costs and doubles the suffering of families, especially during peak periods such as the summer holidays and religious occasions. In this context, civil activist Fatima Khalouq explained, in an exclusive statement to HIBAPRESS, that "opening a direct air route between Turin and Beni Mellal has become an urgent demand given the numerical density of the region's residents in this part of Italy," adding that this connection will contribute to improving the conditions of the community's movement and strengthening its connection with the homeland. Khalouq stressed that responding to this demand falls within the framework of a proximity approach and improving services directed to Moroccans around the world, highlighting that Beni Mellal Airport has qualifications and infrastructure that allow it to receive international flights, making it qualified to be a direct link point with European cities that have a large presence of the Moroccan community. Community activists believe that opening this air route will have a positive impact on the social and economic level, by encouraging domestic tourism in the region, supporting local dynamism, in addition to relieving pressure on other airports that experience great congestion during travel seasons. The Moroccan community in Turin called on the concerned authorities, from competent authorities and airlines, to seriously study this demand, and open channels of communication with community representatives in order to find practical solutions that meet the expectations of thousands of Moroccan families residing in Italy.
