Here’s looking at you, says airline

A new service between Manchester Airport and Casablanca – the destination made famous by the classic 1942 WWII movie starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman – is to be launched soon.

Royal Air Maroc has announced the flights from Tuesday, March 28, when the Moroccan flag-carrier will begin operating non-stop direct service on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The launch sees Manchester Airport become only the third UK airport to operate flights to Casablanca, with the airline also currently running services from London Gatwick and London Heathrow.

The new service will use Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with both business and economy class seating available. The scheduled flight time is approximately three hours and twenty minutes.

As well as offering direct flights from Manchester to Casablanca, Royal Air Maroc’s new service opens the door for connections to 33 African destinations.

Key connections through Casablanca, the second-largest hub to Africa, include Lagos, Accra, Nairobi and Banjul. There is also an opportunity for flight connections to Brazil, as well as daily connecting flights to popular tourist destinations such as Marrakech and Agadir.

Royal Air Maroc serves more than 90 destinations in four continents, bringing Africa closer to the rest of the world. The airline’s UK & Ireland General Manager, Achraf El Hassani, said: “Royal Air Maroc is delighted to launch the only non-stop service from the North of England direct to Casablanca, with thrice-weekly flights between Manchester Airport and Mohammed V International Airport.

“We are thrilled to be providing yet another invaluable link from the UK to Africa and look forward to welcoming passengers on board our service from 28 March.”     
Manchester Airport is the UK’s third largest with more than 25.6m annual passengers.

It has more than 210 routes served by 70 plus airlines. Stephen Turner, commercial director at Manchester Airport, said: “We are pleased to see Royal Air Maroc launch services from Manchester Airport. Being the only airport outside of London with this carrier firmly reinforces our position as the UK’s Global Gateway for the North.

“I am sure the 22m people in our catchment area, which spans as far north as Scotland, south to the Midlands, east across Yorkshire and west to Wales and Merseyside, will welcome the route should they wish to access Casablanca for business or leisure.”