Private Jet Travel in Morocco
Private jet travel is the ultimate luxury mode of transport. While commercial airline travel has become more accessible over the last century, the inconvenience and lack of privacy that comes with such travel has naturally created a continued niche market for people who are willing to spend more for the absolute best travel experiences available. The modern private jet allows travelers to bypass airport queues, security checks and cramped economy seating. Military and government personnel were probably the first people to adopt private jets. It was not long before avaricious corporation CEOs acquired their own jets and airlines began to cater to celebrities and jet-setting tourists with the ultimate in luxury. In addition to providing more luxurious accommodation, these jets eliminated the misery of waiting in long queues for tickets and security screening, dealing with huge baggage allowances and delay-prone schedules while typically providing faster transit times. Private jets can land at smaller airports and provide non-stop service over long ranges. For many people, it is still too expensive, requiring a minimum investment of a million or more dollars, not to mention hefty running expenses. But fractional ownership services allow you to become a part owner of a private jet for only a fraction of the price if you only want to use it for a limited number of hours a year. What price luxury when traveling to your next vacation destination? For some people, the time saved alone will make it worthwhile, not to mention the exclusivity and pampering.
Overview of the Moroccan Aviation Market
The Moroccan aviation market is small but reflects a vibrant trend of development with the increase of scheduled airlines and charter traffic. Air traffic to Morocco has traditionally formed around the Moroccan Diaspora that provides remittance income to the country and is concentrated around the peak summer holiday months and the Eid al-Adha religious holiday. Air traffic into Morocco in the past has also concentrated around certain ports of entry, such as the main airport in Fez and the ones in Rabat and Marrakech. However, the recent years of rising flows of business traffic into Morocco, aided by the increasing number of joint ventures in vertical integrations that have taken place in industries in Morocco, are now also boosting traffic into secondary travel ports in the knowledge economy belt of Morocco, such as Tangiers, Agadir and Casablanca.
Recently, Morocco has built up a highly developed tourism infrastructure to cater to different tourist markets – from the high end to the low end. The airlines tend to serve the different segments of the market, with charter airlines operating to the lower end leisure segment and regular carriers catering to the high end tourist travelers. There are also two major players of air transport in Morocco – Royal Air Maroc, the formal flag carrier of Morocco, and Air France – who have recently entered into a preferential partnership to service the Moroccan market, providing synergies to both. Royal Air Maroc has also actively pursued a dual strategy of developing its passenger and cargo businesses.
Key Airports for Private Jet Operations in Morocco
Morocco has a number of key airports which are ideal for private jet travel to and from Morocco. These are mainly the country’s international airports, in particular Mohammed V International Airport and Marrakech Menara Airport. They are also ideal for onward travel to Moroccan cities. Morocco has no restrictions or specific regulations for private flights, although there are some procedures to follow in terms of general entry, landing, and border control formalities.
Mohammed V International Airport
Mohammed V International Airport is Morocco’s busiest airport, located in Nouasser, about 30 km from Marrakech. It is stressed regularly due to its proximity to the capital of Morocco which has the biggest and maximum air traffic – including charters and private jets. The airport is an important hub for international flights traveling to Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. As a result, it is possibly one of the most overwhelmed airports in the country.
Marrakech Menara Airport
Marrakech Menara Airport is the international airport serving the city of Marrakech, located about 6 km southwest of it. The airport is primarily a tourist facility featuring both international and domestic air traffic. The airport itself is not stressed perpetually. However, it is stressed periodically due to the influx of tourists and flights. It mainly operates UK and France flights, as these two countries alone represent for about 35% of the air transports to Marrakech Menara. Apart from that, it functions flights to Spain, Netherlands, Brussels, Italy, Germany, and Russia.
Agadir-Al Massira Airport
Agadir-Al Massira Airport is an airport serving the town of Agadir, Morocco, located about 22 km south-southeast of the town. Al Massira Airport, along with Menara Airport of Marrakech, provides air transport for the Souss-Massa-Draâ.
Fès–Saïs Airport
Fès–Saïs Airport is a Moroccan airport serving Fès. Located at Saïs, a small village 15 km southeast of Fes, it was built in the 1980s to replace the small airport in Fes, built in the 1950s.
Mohammed V International Airport
Mohammed V International Airport is the busiest airport in Morocco, located in Nouasseur, 10.5 kilometers east of the city center of Casablanca. The airport bears the name of Mohammed V of Morocco, the Sultan of Morocco during its period of French protectorate and the first King of Morocco. The airport is a hub for Royal Air Maroc and a base for Air Arabia Maroc, a subsidiary of Tunisian low-cost airline Air Arabia.
Mohammed V International Airport has two passenger terminals. Although T1 is the one used the most, Terminal 2 is specifically dedicated to flights operated through the charter company. The present Terminal 1 was built in 1998 as a major international passenger hub. Its facilities offer services for business travelers and other passengers with exclusive things such as lounges with high-end catering services, priority security control, and duty-free shops offering luxury brands. Terminal 1 displays and operates an additional number of services for mainly Moroccan passengers heading to French destinations, showing that 47% of the airport’s traffic is of this category. Services by duty-free stores display Moroccan brands, and there is no priority control. The airport operates as a focus city for Turkish Airlines.
With a capacity of 9 million passengers in 2019, it handled over 10 million passengers in that same year, making it the busiest airport in Morocco and the 4th busiest in Africa. The airport is connected to the city center by train services. Built in 2008, the 32 km line connects the airport to the railway station of Casablanca Voyageurs in 30 minutes. There are also bus lines and taxis.
3.2. Marrakech Menara Airport
Marrakech Menara Airport is the second most important airport in Morocco for private jet operations. It is also the first airport that has installed an FBO and handling private jets.
Marrakech Menara Airport is located southwest of the city of Marrakech, only a few minutes from the bustling Medina of Marrakech and the up-market resort of La Palmeraie. It has recently seen the installation of an FBO to handle private jets. Located on the east side of the airport and operated by Actuel FBOs and Handling, its services are mainly focused on leisure travel due to the high number of tourists visiting Morocco.
Although the Moroccan general aviation sector is still very much dominated by large airports accepting only commercial air traffic, Morocco has experienced for many years a real growth in business travel and private jet charter demand. Some Moroccan airports have newly undergone development works to renew their architecture.
Marrakech Menara Airport is well suited for business and executive jet travel, only a 10-minute distance from the city of Marrakech and its excursion destinations. It is the ideal gateway to discover the breathtaking Atlas Mountains. It has long been popular with VIP and celebrity visitors to Marrakech for film productions, events, and fashion shoots, and more recently is also the preferred city for business travel and incentive trips. For business travelers, Marrakech is a very pleasant and unique city to hold meetings and seminars.
3.3. Agadir-Al Massira Airport
Agadir-Al Massira Airport is located in Al Massira, approximately 19 kilometers northeast of Agadir, the capital city of the region. It hosts domestic flights to and from Casablanca and international flights to and from French cities, Brussels and Geneva. It is the second airport of the region, after Mohammed V International Airport, and according to some reports, the busiest airport of southern Morocco.
The base of the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s 3rd Air Region, the airport is where security is ensured for Agadir and the southern part of the kingdom. About fifty airlines serve Agadir, many of which are charter companies serving tourists, especially from France.
Agadir-Al Massira Airport is also a small airport for private jet traffic. A single FBO, handling about 400 movements a year, is available for this traffic. Commercial airliners’ takeoffs and landings are managed in a tower by the Direction Générale de L’Aviation Civile, while the FBO has been authorized to manage General Aviation traffic in the rest of the airport.
Seasonal movements of private jets and airliners are significant from March to November, all holidays included. During this period, Agadir and its nearby beach resorts are mainly frequented by foreign tourists and Moroccans living abroad. The region even receives heavy traffic of business jets in July and August to transport local windsurfing enthusiasts to various beaches along the Atlantic coast.
3.4. Fès–Saïs Airport
Previously known as Fès–Saïs Airport, Fès is an airport serving Fès, the capital city of the Fès–Meknès region in Morocco, which is located in the northeast of the country. It is situated 12.5 km southwest of the city. In 2019, Fès–Saïs Airport’s terminal became one of the largest terminals in Morocco handling approximately 300,000 passengers annually.
Fès–Saïs Airport is classified as an international airport and has been previously served by several low-cost airlines, including Moroccan carrier Air Arabia and European carriers. Fès–Saïs Airport was the third Moroccan airport after Casablanca and Marrakech to be equipped with the brand new Airport Emergency Service concept, thanks to officers presented at the time by the National Police Force who were specially trained and deployed to the airport.
Your flight ground transportation will not be arranged by your charter flight operator. Actually, the staff at your terminal will probably not speak your language but can help you arrange your onward travel in the right direction when your private jet arrives at Fès–Saïs Airport within Morocco. If you need a hotel reservation or local contacts please call your hotel, these people may speak your language. However, International public flights are mainly operated by Royal Air Maroc and Ryanair from London Stansted and Paris, charters are operated throughout the year on demand. Therefore, it is common to suffer some delays on privatised movements as the airport often becomes wedged when public flights are scheduled.
4. Regulatory Framework Governing Private Jets in Morocco
This chapter will analyze the legal framework governing private jets in Morocco, from the core legal basis regarding the missions that the Moroccan civil aviation authority must accomplish regarding the issuance of regulations regarding civil aviation and air navigation security to the laws set forth within the flight operation public service regulations, the Moroccan air code, and its regulatory texts regarding private jets operation. Morocco is a member of the Chicago Convention and undertook to comply with its provisions, particularly those regarding the establishment of a civil aviation authority to regulate civil aviation. In addition, the Convention entrusted each state with the exclusive authority to control the flights of foreign and domestic aircraft over its territory and with the duty to ensure that the activities of foreign civil aviation operators within its territory are carried out in accordance with its own national regulations. These obligations are of course accompanied by reciprocal obligations regarding the carrying out of international flights, on the observance of each state’s privileges and restrictions in respect of international flights. The Chicago Convention is a binding international treaty, but Morocco has also passed national laws regarding civil aviation matters. Notably, Decree 2.75.162 of 2 joumada I 1395 establishes the Moroccan civil aviation authority’s missions in the following terms: “public air transport activities are under the control and supervision of the government, which ensures their regulation and the rules guaranteeing the security of persons and property transported and the proper functioning of the services” and “the tasks of the Direction de l’Aviation Civile consist, in particular, in the preparation and implementation of the existing laws and regulations in order to guarantee public safety and international cooperation in the field of civil aviation.”
5. Types of Private Jets Available in Morocco
To make your flight enjoyable and safe, our partner in Morocco is equipped with all types of jets. We usually recommend the following categories based on our experience and your needs. Light Jets are generally the most economical jets since they require smaller runways and are the cheapest to operate. However, price shouldn’t be your only criteria when deciding the type of jet you need. Factors such as passenger numbers, baggages, flight times and airports should weigh equally in your decision. In Morocco, we mainly use Light jets for flights between cities such as Marrakech, Agadir, Rabat, Tangiers, or Essaouira.
Also known as “medium jets”, Midsize jets and Super Midsize jets are typically chosen for trips longer than two hours, where crews can service your passengers more comfortably. On the other hand, Heavy jets are typically defined by passenger comfort: generous passenger space for themselves and their bags, perfect service for the whole flight, top-notch facilities, and of course, of being able to fly you nonstop to the other side of the world. In Morocco, we can deploy Heavy jets for any kind of international flight. When you have a much bigger party, we have a number of VIP Airliner planes you can fly with – from the majestic A320 to the flashy Gulfstream G280.
For travelers seeking to fly in exclusive privacy, there are several elegant options provided by the private aviation sector in Morocco. We can offer you whatever you may need: medium jets, heavy jets, and private airliners specially designed to make you forget you are traveling onboard a plane! All have a comfortable living area or sitting area, a separate bedroom or quiet environment, a small dressing room, and a cozy lounge with a sofa.
5.1. Light Jets
Light jets would be the ultimate luxury service for businesspeople and leisurely travelers alike if only they could make it to every destination in Morocco. Light jets excel at the short and mid-range missions that make up the majority of business travel in Morocco and elsewhere, completing them quickly, in a fraction of the time of turboprops and airliners, and in some comfort. Light jets are extremely fast – some can make it from New York to San Francisco in five hours or less – and they get off the ground faster than either turboprops or larger jets. These business jets also have lower overhead costs than either larger jets or turboprop aircraft – costs that they pass on to clients. To put it plainly, light jets are the perfect choice for business flights from Morocco to the rest of Europe.
Light jets have a couple of notable disadvantages over larger business jets: their luggage space is normally limited and, with only six seats, they may not be big enough for a large party; long-haul international flights in these ultra-long-range planes are potentially cramped (albeit in a luxurious manner) for a group of six travelers. (Plus, no matter what the classification, remember that eight-person light jets are expected to follow the regulations as part 135 charter planes may have to comply with heavier jets). These business jets more efficiently use space and fuel. To put it simply, light jets have some minor disadvantages over midsize jets and larger jets, but they make a great option for short to medium distance flights.
5.2. Midsize Jets
Midsize jets are a great solution for flying privately on business trips across Morocco or from Morocco to the neighboring countries or Europe. Some of the largest jets in the private jet category are very large jets which are way bigger and much more expensive to charter than midsize jets, but there are also midsize jets for long-haul flights that are not so small. That’s why it is common to compare midsize jets to large jets: the former have the same features but fewer amenities. We explain below which are the best midsize jets for charter.
The midsize category includes jets that can accommodate between 6 and 8 passengers, including the citation series – the Citation V, Citation VI and Citation VII – the Hawker series – Hawker 700, 750 and 800, the Beechjet 400, the Learjet series – Learjet 60 and 75 – or the Embraer Legacy 135 and Legacy 140. There are also a few super-midsize jets that can be slightly bigger but also faster or have larger luggage capacity and more cabin amenities, at the same price.
Some of these jets are great for monthly charter and on-demand charter, some of them are less comfortable and should not be rented for a trip lasting more than two or three hours, depending on your personal expectations. The jets mentioned can fly as far as Gibraltar or the Balearic Islands, while they do not have the luxurious amenities or large luggage capacity of heavy jets. Midsize jets are a common choice for charter on short-haul flights going from Morocco to Spain like Barcelona, Madrid or Palma de Mallorca.
5.3. Heavy Jets
Heavy jets are designed for long-haul travel, such as transcontinental and international flights. Generally with three separate cabin areas, they can provide the most luxury and space of any category of private jet. Heavy jets are also the best choice when flying with a large group, since they typically have a passenger capacity of 10 to 16. Nonetheless, careful consideration should still be given to the size of your traveling party, as filling a private jet below capacity is a waste of resources, but overloading a private jet is both irresponsible and illegal.
Heavy jets allow you to check in at major airliner terminals in your own private terminal. Since most travel is point-to-point, there won’t be need to wait around for connecting flights. Like other major airliners, heavy jets are prone to delays and other operational issues, but the time you spend with the aircraft is likely to be a fraction of what you would spend in a private jet terminal.
Heavy jets are expensive to operate and maintain, and there is a reason why a name is synonymous with the rich and powerful. For the wealthy few, flying in a “Heavy” is the ultimate luxury — but for the rest of us, it is simply the best way to maximize time, one of our most important and limited resources.
6. Costs Associated with Private Jet Travel
Private jet travel is often perceived as an incredibly expensive endeavor, and while it can be associated with some very high costs, it is not always the case. Whether private flights are looking to fly business, private, or chartered jets; the price paid depends on a variety of factors that are unique to the kind of travel you are looking to take. For most types of private jet travel, especially in Morocco, it is critical to consider all of the associated costs in order to be able to estimate how much their trip will cost.
There are typically 2 forms of costs associated with private jet travel which are as follows: operational costs, which will depend on the duration and requirements of a specific trip; and other participative costs such as renting the aircraft for longer periods, operating under a charter company, or purchasing your own aircraft.
When flying in a private jet owned by a large charter operator, a passenger is likely only to pay charter costs that include landing and parking fees at the destination, fueling, crew costs, on-board catering, and any other discretionary costs of preparation and maintenance. On the other hand, a private jet owner will incur other ownership costs. Jet ownership is not always a complicated task; aircraft can be owned privately, owned under a corporate name, or accessed through a partnership. However the compensation of a jet is carried out privately or through a corporation, the owner must consider the operational costs as well as additional money to be allocated specifically for a team dedicated to the maintenance, upkeep, and continuous functioning of the aircraft. The purchase price of an aircraft and its eventual resale price are extra costs but ridiculous, given the aspect of monetary depreciation that surrounds a luxury asset.
6.1. Charter Costs
This section will help you assess a potential charter quote for a private jet or helicopter, and then compare various quotes to help you distinguish between specific charter versus small airline flights. Chartering private jets is a good option for occasional travelers who would not want to buy an aircraft because of the involvement of high initial and operational costs. The first thing to note is that prices per flight hour vary hugely depending on the aircraft type and whether it is an air taxi or jet. Hence, deploying different sources for different parts of the trip may be the best solution to minimize the budget. A good strategy is to ride the most appropriate type of carrier available for each leg of the trip. For example, if you were to travel from Rabat (in the north) to the far southern port of Dakhla, taking an air taxi from the capital to Laayoune and then taking a private jet from Laayoune to Dakhla may be the best alternative to minimize the chartered flight budget. Inadequate pricing information is often an obstacle for travelers opting for charter services. Online research is not always useful because of the wide range of options given for the same route. Requesting travel estimates via email or phone is, hence, often the most effective option to accurately assess prices for your desired schedule. For those who want to keep using chartered services for their business or leisure travels, it is advisable to negotiate attractive yearly flat rates with your preferred operator for regular flight routes.
6.2. Ownership Costs
Ownership costs, from a historical perspective, are existing commitments demanded by management to owners to recover initial investments, including depreciation, insuring, fuelling, and employing a plane. Studies about cost savings via private aircraft investments calculate ownership cost based on projected trip profiles. The higher the number of business trips that are flown with the company’s aircraft, the longer the flights and the more level the business structure, the higher the savings that can be realized through owned aircraft. Ownership costs can also be represented from a market perspective, whereby ownership cost indicates what the market demands from owners by means of privatizing resources, so that owners would be indifferent between selling and holding a private aircraft. Because annual flight profiles will differ amongst owners, ownership costs can either increase or decrease with utilization. The more highly utilized the aircraft, the more rapidly the aircraft will depreciate, putting pressure on ownership cost. However, at the other end of the scale, if a private aircraft is used very seldom, then different expectations for the market demand would apply.
People in the business aviation industry often overhear potential private jet owners asking similar questions. What are the ownership costs of a private jet? My friend/relative has a private jet and it is costly to maintain. They say that the ownership costs of owning a private jet are similar to a yacht. This section discusses the costs associated with owning a private jet compared to renting a private jet or making a charter flight. What we focus on are the ownership costs of owning your own private jet.
6.3. Maintenance and Operational Costs
Maintenance and operational costs depend exclusively on the use of the aircraft, which is specific to each owner or user of the aircraft. It is normal to create an estimate for a monthly management service based on the volume of business flights that the customer normally carries out. The hourly cost of the pilots, auxiliary personnel, fuel, catering, landing fees, overnight stays are part of the costs that the aircraft owner incurs when traveling for business. An efficient team of pilots plying a specific itinerary or planned way is a guarantee of a successful flight. Since management services are estimated monthly according to actual data from the preferential routes’ profile, a monthly payment is agreed, which is not associated with the actual flights either.
If the aircraft has to remain on standby in domestic or foreign airports for a long time, the customer is charged an additional cost. The estimated management budget can be approximated for an aircraft if it operates on average 300 hours or more, although this number is variable. Management of business travel is part of aircraft asset services. An aircraft is a workspace that represents a large investment for the owner and must be fitted according to the exclusive use of its owners and collaborators. Business aircraft is a highly specialized product and must be manufactured according to customer indications. It is necessary to supervise the work of the companies that perform maintenance on the aircraft to guarantee compliance with security standards. Labor safety and air safety are inseparable issues. An aircraft travels on average 200 hours a year. 98% of aircraft accidents occur during takeoff and landing procedures and during flight operations and are associated with crew training.
7. Benefits of Private Jet Travel in Morocco
There are many benefits to flying by private jet; a few key factors can help you decide if a private jet is best for you: time efficiency, privacy and comfort, and the ability to reach remote locations. Each of these factors can help guide your decision for private travel in Morocco.
Time Efficiency
We all know that travel time for commercial flights can quickly add up with additional time for preparing plans, waiting in traffic to and from the airport, security checks to board, and many other unforeseen delays that come with commercial travel. Traveling with a private jet allows you to eliminate many of the delays associated with commercial travel. You are able to leave the airport when you want, not when the airline tells you to leave at their convenience! Traveling through private airport terminals give you access to fully private lounges with no waiting times, as your jet is right by the terminal doors. This makes for a smoother travel plan in many cases and can maximize the time spent on the ground at your final destination. Nobody wants to spend time doing anything but enjoying their time in Morocco!
Privacy and Comfort
When you book your private jet, you have the entire aircraft to yourself, and your guest list can be as big or small as you desire. Want more room to relax or get work done? A larger jet will match your needs. Most jets come equipped with extra amenities which allow you to board, stretch your legs, and do whatever you want to feel comfortable! You aren’t confined to choose from pre-packaged meals, you design what food you want as well as what pushbacks and drinks you desire. You can also visit the restroom whenever you want as there is always a private restroom on board! At the end of the day, this is YOUR jet and YOU make the rules!
7.1. Time Efficiency
Traveling within Morocco is usually done by road or scheduled aircraft. Travel distances are often significant; planes travel at high speed so flying takes little longer than driving. Then add up the time you take to get to and from the airport, check-in and clearance, waiting and any delay. You may be spending much longer getting through the whole routine than just flying.
Charter a plane and you can check in a few minutes before the flight leaves. And in reality, it should not take long at all if you are flying from or to a major airport.
Given the sizable distances you may be traveling to see nature, local crafts, or simply to go to a hotel with a swimming pool, what is a few hundred Dirhams spent on a charter flight relative to the fatigue and expense to make the journey by road. Chartering makes sense even for short hops. So for example, Agadir and Marrakech are practically neighbors by air.
7.2. Privacy and Comfort
Unlike commercial flying, which is crowded and hardly stressful, luxury private jets offer a level of comfort that is unreachable otherwise. Indeed, better space, reclinable and wide seats, presence of a personal flight crew, luxurious catering, entertainment systems, international calls, and total privacy are just a few benefits of private flights compared to commercial ones. You can rest, eat, read, or work without any constraints, and VIPs and celebrities book private jets to reach Morocco and surf on the best beaches in Taghazoute, just like you could do. But they don’t certainly stop there – plenty of celebrities have their own luxury homes in Morocco, where they spend work-free days between parties and relaxation, eating the best food, talking with ancient Berber people, drinking the best tea in the world, and visiting the unique historical places that Morocco has to offer, thanks to VIP assistance that takes care of everything. When it comes to privacy, commercial flying provides ridiculous tiny seats little roomy, and strict rules, making a 10-hour trip to Marrakech an agonizing experience you would never wish on your enemy. With a luxury private flight, you can travel with a selected number of passengers and peacefully reach any airport you like. Not to mention that traveling with your friends is totally different from traveling with strangers – and the best part is that everyone can travel in an extraordinarily spacious cabin, enjoying the privacy of the boutique jet-style experience and a considerate cabin crew. Luxury private aviation is a fun and stress-free way to move, and private jet trips allow travelers to have exclusive curated experiences in Morocco. Facilities and services on board can be customized and adjusted to meet any specific need, plus you can enjoy a totally different level of hospitality and accompaniment. There is the best food and wine for adults, selected magazines and newspapers, tailored organization for business trips, and kids’ services for families.
7.3. Access to Remote Locations
Morocco is a country that boasts extraordinary geographical diversity and beauty, characterized by awe-inspiring coastlines, majestic mountain ranges, captivating desert landscapes, lush orchards, lush valleys, and other attractions. Many of these beautiful locations are remote and not accessible by large commercial flights. Typically, a road trip is required to reach these remote yet astonishing locations. However, private jet travel provides a quicker and direct option to access these hidden gems. There are plenty of scenic locations across the Moroccan landscape that warrant a visit and private jets help you reach them stress-free. Do you want to travel to Majorelle Garden, located in the heart of Marrakech, without going through the long process of standing in long queues to get to the heart of the city? Or would you like to visit the Palace of the Bay, located in the northern part of the city of Marrakech but in a different region, without having to resort to long tiring road trips? Private jet travel allows you to directly reach the Al Massira Airport and the Menara International Airport of Marrakech and travel to these attractions in less than half an hour. In the mood to roam around the beaches of Essaouira? Or do you want to bask in the beauty of the waterfalls and valley of Ouzoud? Travel in complete peace of mind and pace by private flying to the world-renowned Essaouira Mugador Airport or the Ouzoud Waterfalls Airport. These two gorgeous scenic locations lie along the gradient of the Atlantic Coast. Visit any attraction located near large cities stress-free.
8. Challenges and Limitations
There is no doubt that private jets operate according to the existing regulations and rules of the countries that they operate in, however, there are a number of challenges that impact the companies operating private jet travel in Morocco. The following are the challenges and limitations are listed below:
8.1. Weather Conditions Another natural phenomenon that can affect private aviation are the weather conditions. While commercial airliners fly at higher altitudes and generally go above weather-related turbulence, private aviation sometimes has to operate under these conditions. Also, luxury aircrafts, especially those on short-haul flights and on outbound and inbound waves, are operated in the lower altitudes and may be subject to these turbulence-related phenomena. It is, therefore, crucial when operating luxury aircrafts to take into consideration the weather conditions on radar.
8.2. Air Traffic Regulations Commercial flights are shadowed by the fact that traveling by air is regulated by air traffic regulations at commercial flight levels. The core concept behind the air traffic regulations at these flight levels is not only passenger safety, but also the efficacy of the flight. At commercial flight levels, there are certain zones in the sky where commercial airliners must operate in where there is minimal free space in order to ensure that the flight reaches its destination in minimal time. At times, there might be cases where either going to or returning from Morocco, aircrafts might be put into long holding patterns. For luxury travel, it is preferred to schedule flights outside the peak times for commercial airliners.
8.3. Cost Barriers An important limitation for the development of the private aviation in Morocco, is represented by costs. Private aviation is still a privilege for only a few and wealth in Morocco is relatively concentrated. However, if the objective is to contribute to the tourist growth of Morocco, which would benefit from an upturn in MICE and leisure markets, it is important to work on multi-user prices, especially for group transportation.
8.1. Weather Conditions
The associated costs with private jet travel are much higher than the commercial air traffic for usually very short travel times. Given the very limited economies of scale they can realize, business jets should find their market segment in making available a service that is surely more comfortable than a commercial airline service, and which fills the gap imposed by the commercial airlines covering long distances but should not forget to do it faster and at a cost not much higher than the commercial air traffic. France, Germany, Great Britain, and the United States are among the countries where such performance is well met, and in totally different scales, there are emerging markets in Russia and China.
The problems associated with private jets have little to do with regulations and much to do with airport services available and weather conditions. Weather conditions apply problem in regions which have long periods of either high fog, low clouds, dust, thunderstorm, or frost and snow. For example, Morocco has long periods of excessive dust during the summer season with continuous dry conditions, and which are intensified by a wind that blows down from the Northeast over the Morocco area. Another significant problem is that the cloud cover at 10 km and above the Morocco area is almost constant during the winter months and part of the spring.
8.2. Air Traffic Regulations
– Rationale, objectives, and structure of the regulation The ruling regulating the general conditions of access to the airspace and the air traffic in the Moroccan airspace was published by our country in July 2007. Based on conventional techniques for belief management, this disposition puts forward both the international commitments of Morocco and the national security obligations which may affect, at the request of the authorities in charge, the normal development of the commercial routes operated by the designated airlines, especially those serving Morocco, the State’s exclusive responsibility to organize and control civil aerial transportation, as well as the prerogatives conferred on the national authorities to take any measure of general nature or any provision needed to ensure protection to the passengers and the operational security of the Moroccan-airspace incursion-traffic from any aerial safety threat or danger.
Content of the regulation The regulation emphasizes the considerable interest of Morocco and the interest of the interested parties to be able to benefit from a robust, constant, jointly developed in-depth exchanges as well as a clear air-traffic use planning over Morocco, governed by long-term bilateral regulations. These arrangements must be backed by air-traffic policies that are suitable and proportionate to the types of services offered, taking into account, depending on the mode of operation selected, the obligatory period of free market access for the new-comers in the market. The regulation therefore allows the country to source right into its legal arsenal, the maximum amount of levers which may help it influence or even control the conditions of circulation within its airspace if the situation requires it.
8.3. Cost Barriers
Because of the very high cost of acquiring a corporate aircraft, there is a limited number of aircraft that fly on a scheduled basis shall cross the country. So, awaiting the day where scheduled flights do act as a complementary solution to the regular airlines, which do find it a longer practicing a monopolistic position and taking advantage of it by charging excessive rates on some of the routes. Although business jets are able to land at small airports that have short runways, and are therefore, more numerous at least in the US than commercial jet, but certain routes are just not heavy enough to support such a service, particularly outside the normal working day. Their customers recognize that the air taxi services are a far more expensive way of traveling than commercial aviation. But they view the air taxi as a competitor primarily for service but at no lower rate than they would pay for traveling by train, but an air taxi service could flourish on a few local trades that are comparatively heavy and that require a high standard of service. Businessmen and large groups of people want a service to save them time. So operational economics support the idea that the market will determine the final verdict on pricing and demand for private jet travel. So scheduled air taxi service will result from natural competitive forces in the airline industry. It is doubtful the all-weather instruction can be successfully bootstrapped to date. The product has hyper inelastic demand. Its fuel calculates in the price at a ratio of 550-1.
9. Case Studies of Private Jet Use in Morocco
This chapter surveys case studies of private jet travel in Morocco to show the nature of demand for such travel. It focuses on three important types of travel for private jet travel: business travel, tourism and leisure, and emergency services.
9.1. Business Travel
Private jets are a critical aviation component for executive and business travel. Morocco’s economy is developing, some multinational companies have chosen this country to locate part of their production, expansion, or services. Therefore, the need for corporate air transport services is advancing more and more in Morocco.
Private jets are ideal for short flights. This fact has attracted the interest of business travelers, mainly for travel to cities such as Oujda, Nador, Dakhla, Agadir, and Laâyoune. These flights reach destinations that are sometimes not well connected daily by direct scheduled services. Paradoxically, the capital of a country is usually the most visited. In this case, the core company makes a direct flight to Rabat.
9.2. Tourism and Leisure
Tourism is one of the significant sectors of the national economy in Morocco. The travel and tourism sector contributes to more than 7% of GDP and provides approximately 400,000 jobs directly. The tourist flow has grown in recent years, with around 7 million travelers visiting Morocco. Jet set tourists are the original typical users of general and private aviation. The microcommanders’ trips are almost always purely touristic and are only made on weekends or vacation periods. The skippers of these aircraft are wealthy people who practice leisure or pleasure travel.
9.3. Emergency Services
Private jet services undertake additional emergency services to supply air transport. Their use is essential for persons in serious health condition or women in labor who need to travel to hospitals in other countries or with conditions that are not offered in hospitals in Morocco. Such events sometimes occur in airports with little activity in the region.
9.1. Business Travel
Morocco’s strategic geographical situation, opening onto the sea and in direct contact with Europe, and its emerged political stability make it a country to work with. A developing market, Morocco is full of surprises. The projects undertaken bring new opportunities to international companies, which increasingly respond to the call for help from the various public and private Moroccan companies. The Moroccan project is no longer limited to the internal market alone; it is turning towards the Continent and even the world. Investing in Morocco will allow you to deploy your expertise and your know-how in an optimally stable environment. It is an exceptional opportunity to reach the West African market, which has a very high growth rate.
With a presence area that meets all operations in a wide region with strong social and economic growth, Morocco has become an essential link between Europe and Africa. The direct impact on the airline industry is also very significant. Morocco is one of the leading countries in Africa, with more than 15 airlines ranking among the 200 busiest in the world. Indeed, Moroccan airports are among the busiest airports in Africa, and traffic is expected to increase significantly in the years to come. The need for airport seats is considerable.
You are or you are about to be an entrepreneur, and you recourse the private jets for your business trip in Morocco. You should know that a private flight allows you to save time and occupies a preeminent place at the business travelers. Thanks to business aviation, you will be able to land in front of your meeting, without worrying about airport congestion. By traveling by private jet in Morocco, you can tailor your route to your needs and avoid unnecessary waiting for commercial flights. You decide the airport of departure, the schedules according to your availability. Every day, business travelers travel by private jet for a meeting, a fair, a conference, etc. The little extra of private aviation is that we can land closer to our engagement.
9.2. Tourism and Leisure
Morocco is one of the world’s top ten tourist destinations. It is renowned for both its tourist attractions and for its significant tourist flow throughout the year and especially during the summer months. It is one of the Middle East countries that attracts a great deal of international tourism, putting it at the forefront of the Maghreb region. Morocco is characterized by several tourist products, comprising the tourist circuits of historical interest, the tourist circuits of entertainment and leisure, and the other domains dedicated to the convention market.
Marrakech is one of the most popular destinations in Morocco. Dubbed the “red city,” it offers tourists a palimpsestic reading of civilizations over nearly a thousand years of history. The city has an entire wealth of historical monuments, whereby visitors will enjoy exploring the diversity of styles. With a year-round sunshine, its contemporary gardens remain a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. Besides its cultural and artistic heritage, Marrakech is also a state-of-the-art congress destination, welcoming numerous exhibits, fairs, and international events. The recent creation of the new Marrakech Menara Airport is a pronounced asset for the city.
The touristic potential of Morocco is very attractive indeed; however, the Moroccan tourism is still relying mainly on the European market. Further, the tourism activities in Morocco are concentrated mostly on a limited period of the year, with a predominance of the summer months, mainly due to the climatic conditions of the seas. In terms of distribution, the majority of the arrivals are located in the coastal areas and mainly on the Tangier – Agadir strip and that of the Atlantic Sub-Coast. As for the internal tourism, it is still not well developed, but very interesting. It is characterized mainly by the visit of the historical sites, the coastal regions, and the ski resorts during winter, for the average rich Moroccans.
9.3. Emergency Services
Unfortunately, there are a limited number of flights offering medical services in Morocco, although local medevac companies can provide coverage on a case-by-case basis. Legal assistance can help you meet legal requirements and coordinate logistics for any private jet flight, allowing for quick transportation to the nearest hospital or clinic. Moreover, with your request we will offer you a lawyer to accompany your trip and ensure your peace of mind, without worries. In France, you can be treated at leading hospitals located in Paris or at hospitals in Belgium and Spain.
Suffering from an unexpected health problem or an injury on vacation can ruin your travel plans. Moreover, if you are abroad, there are additional worries that arise. What to do? Where to go? How to consult a doctor? And if you are forced to return home quickly, you still have to worry about medical transport. However, air medical transport is for some a mode still little used. Nevertheless, for some years now, there is a real boom side of this specialized air transport. At the request of the patient, the private jet company sets up anything related to the transfer in order to propose the best conditions for the flight. Fortunately, these specialized companies manage the logistics of this medical repatriation and can accompany you throughout the procedure. Private carriers collaborate with health professionals in order to transport the patient in the best conditions and at a lower cost.
10. Future Trends in Private Aviation in Morocco
The future of private aviation in Morocco appears promising, driven by a demand for competitive and affordable solutions for all types of air travel. Customers are opting for smaller and more flexible jets due to the rising cost of business class tickets and limited availability of scheduled services. However, it is worth mentioning that, despite the growth of private aviation, and as the country’s air traffic is increasing at an average rate of about 4% per year, the market for private jets remains limited by the impact of external economic conditions. Moreover, the size of the global private aviation fleet is set to increase significantly, with the increase in demand expected to overcome more than a decade of market stagnation and total fleet growth, which has been averaging only 0% to 2% since 1998. The market for private jets is expected to remain strong in Western Europe but its rapid growth will take place in those parts of the world that are currently the least active, particularly the Asia-Pacific region. In Morocco, it is particularly Europe that represents the main reference market, with a strong demand for various tourist routes, as well as private excursions to some of the world’s most famous cities.
The future trends in the private jet sector to date reflect those of recent years: a pressure for cheapness, modernity and new services, allowing business aviation to establish itself as an alternative to scheduled links. To this end, the service providers have to adapt their resources: by offering low-cost flights and divert inexpensive aircraft to tourist routes, simple solutions are needed to confirm the departure of the flight. Before boarding a jet, the passenger must check in an hour before takeoff. When landing in Morocco for a party of 20 people, a bus company must be waiting at the doors of the Moroccan and foreign airports where the clients disembark. Staff must take their luggage, the serious shocks of the installed viewing and checking system over many years being avoided, and the passenger will then be taken to a hotel as found in the brochures.
10.1. Technological Advancements
In today’s fast-paced world, progress in technology offers flight solutions that are becoming more efficient, affordable, flexible, and sustainable. Many aircraft manufacturers are investing great resources in the development of alternative power solutions, from electric engines to hybrid, hydrogen, and sustainable aviation fuel engines. This shift will allow the private aviation industry to dramatically reduce its carbon footprint and to answer the increasing pressure on airports to comply with strict air quality regulations. These emerging power technologies are expected to come to market within the next decade, opening new frontiers for private aviation.
There also might be a completely new type of aircraft coming to the industry: air taxis. Rotocraft are no longer limited to the transporting of only small numbers of passengers thanks to innovations in electric vertical take-off and landing technology. With advances in battery technology enabling longer ranges, many different start-ups and established aerospace developers are designing electric simulated take-off and landing vehicles and eVTOLs to fly passengers on short-haul routes. Around the world, cities are preparing helicopter services — and the heliports catering to them — for a return to more sumptuous travel once COVID-19 is fully behind us. These travelers may find it difficult to ascertain the advantages of a journey in a private jet. But soon the private jet and air taxi industries will be poised to collaborate and bring more options to more locations.
10.2. Sustainability Initiatives
Future growth in the Moroccan business jet sector will not take place if it does not consider environmental issues and sustainable practices. To achieve its growth objectives, the private aviation industry must respond adequately to sustainability expectations as expressed mainly by the public and clients. Generally, the concept of sustainability is defined more or less as an equilibrium that should be maintained in three areas: the economy, the environment, and society. For the aviation sector in Morocco as elsewhere, the challenge is to maintain an effective and well-structured industry that provides numerous jobs and allows for a strong economic dynamic while limiting adverse impacts on the environment. The air transport sector is responsible for 3-4 % of greenhouse gas emissions. Business aviation contributes for approximately 1% of this figure and is committed to reducing its footprint. In fact, the particularities of business aviation make it different from the scheduled air transport sector with regards to the associated emissions, the size of the aircraft, the routes, and the number of passengers. Specialisation is a key concept to take into consideration in the energy transition. Some routes of business aviation have a very low rate of passenger occupancy: a short hop is typically flown with just one or two passengers on board and, therefore, generates substantially greater emissions per passenger mile than a scheduled flight. The private aviation sector is in the process of mobilizing to accomplish the objective of net zero emissions by 2050. Some overarching principles exist to govern the sector’s orientation towards sustainable development: environmental protection and biodiversity, governance, compliance, integrity, respect for people, and consultation. These principles are applicable to all private aviation.
11. Famous private jets between Moroccan cities
The history of aircraft travel in Morocco is special, as the Kingdom is one of the first African countries to have a contract with an airline company. Royal Air Maroc was created in 1957, and is for a long time the first airline in Morocco. But people… They are crazy about private planes! Between VIP services at the airport and Jet Companies located everywhere in the country providing transfer services, there is no doubt: All Moroccans love private jets. We tell you the famous Jet trips in Morocco.
When we think about a famous private jet trip, we often think about the one linking Marrakeck, which designates city of the Kings. And Errachidia, a small village located in the middle of the Sahara desert, far away from everything. And the question is: Why? In fact, two hours in a normal plane from Hassan II Airport in Marrakech, and, after 20 minutes of 4*4, how fast you can tell? Marrakech (which exits wishes), and…. the south of Morocco, where infinity is everywhere. (and with incalculable resources: dates palms). The private plane…. It’s crazy… You jump in a private taxi for 20 minutes to Agadir airport, and you find a small aircraft and land soon in a sand floor, you land directly in the hotel, private jet: one word!
There is a second Jet trip that is famous with people. It is the one which leaves the city of arts, Fes, to Errachidia Airport. The small village of the Sahara that is not far from Merzouga (with its magnificent dunes). And the third trip is the one of Casablanca. With an economic interest: for short activities in the Sahara, between important businessmen seeking wildness for some villas. The private jet, Private jet!
11.1. Private Jet Travel from Marrakech to Errachidia Airport(Desert trip)
11.1. Private Jet Travel from Marrakech to Errachidia Airport
Our jet will leave the superb private airport built without any environmental impact 10mns from Marrakech. After some thrilling flights on the Great Lake, snowed Ridge, High Atlas, and Valley of the Berber people, we will reach the north border of the vast Sahara desert, and later start a fast descent to Errachidia Airport.
Errachidia Airport is the nearest to the famous Merzouga Dunes of the Sahara desert and to the fascinating Ziz Valley, and the huge palm-plateau of the Jbel Saghro mountains. It is also close to the exquisite Brlakene Lake. Reaching these magical places by private jet allows a visit during the day but also at sunset and sunrise times like that in the desert. There are no flight duration or vertiginous fare costs. Not less important, that avoids the known one-day-hussle to spend the night in the region.
11.2. Private Jet Travel from Fes to Sahara desert (Errachidia Airport)
11.2. Private jet travel from Fes to Sahara desert
If you are not in Fes but are looking for a Saharan trip like no other, a private jet that takes you from Fes to a desert near Errachidia could, in just a couple of hours, land you in a completely different landscape. The trip would start at your location and bring you to the international airport of Fes–Saïs. A newly built modern airport, Fes Saïs is situated about 14 kilometers southeast of Fes, Morocco’s leading cultural center. It serves as a base for flights operated by a low-fare airline.
But, then, what’s the trip to the Sahara like? Most of the southern Moroccan geography is traversed by the Atlas Mountains and after you fly through them, the landscape is quite uniquely desertic. You could certainly have some of the Mediterranean landscapes. But as you arrive close to Errachidia, the area becomes progressively drier and emptier of mountains, transitioning into what is called a “Hamada”, which is a desert covered in gravel plains instead of dunes full of sand. Surely you would feel that just a little while ago, you had been in a different world, and now you find yourself on a flight that would possibly be the contrast of feeling cozy in disturbing cold and then feeling the scorching heat of the sands of the Sahara desert.
The arrival in Errachidia Airport would constitute what is probably still a more modern way of traveling to the desert now having been chosen by some for real estate business meetings in northern Morocco.
11.3. Private Jet Travel from Casablanca to Errachidia Airport (Sahara Trip)
Having a small private jet from your nearest airport, you can be landing on the smooth, brand new runway of the well equipped desert Errachidia airport into Zakoria and Khalid Ait Bouhamid’s exploratory kingdom of erg Chebbi, near Merzouga, the grand dunes of Sahara, just a short drive away or you can be enjoying Berber hospitality in any of the authentic and luxury desert camps. Dishing out the magic of Morocco’s Sahara desert in all its flavors and ingredients is what a Berber originally from the desert and his team strive for. Specializing in Sahara desert tours and trips and transfers from Marrakech, Fes, and Casablanca to Errachidia airport, Merzouga, Zagora, Mhamid, and many desert destinations in southern Morocco. The transferring you to your desert destination and operating the Sahara desert tours safely and comfortably in SUVs and minibuses driven by excellent drivers is what they are best known for. Desert trips in vehicles, and desert caravan trips via camel departing from Merzouga, Zagora, Mhamid, and Morocco have been operated for the last ten years. All transport, adventure activities, stay in traditional or deluxe desert camps, and desert guest house accommodation are organized for you ensuring a fantastic time is spent in the magic of Morocco desert during your travel or holiday.
