The Ryanair effect in reverse: Flight cuts to Morocco means fewer tourists

Ryanair will reduce flights to Morocco following disagreements with the Moroccan governmental airport authority ONDA over handling charges. From Oct. 1 it will cancel 34 weekly flights to Moroccan airports from Spain, France, Belgium and the UK.

Ryanair deputy CEO Michael Cawley’s statement: “I regret to announce that we are making these substantial reductions which will result in up to 100,000 less tourists annually and an annual loss in tourism expenditure and job losses for the Moroccan economy of EUR 50m. Ryanair will now allocate this capacity elsewhere to the many markets earnestly seeking Ryanair’s growth and that are offering long term, sustainable cost bases to underpin Ryanair’s guaranteed low fares.”