Iberia reanuda los vuelos con Marruecos como alternativa a la Operación Paso del Estrecho

The Moroccan government's decision to suspend Operation Crossing the Strait of Gibraltar (OPE) on 6 June, apart from being a blow to the south of the peninsula, which is largely fed by the flow of travellers during the summer season, was also a setback for the thousands of Moroccan emigrants who were planning to return to their country for the summer season.

Following the Moroccan government's refusal to allow Operation Crossing the Strait or, as it is known in Morocco, Operation Marhaba (welcome in Arabic), Moroccan migrants considered different possibilities, including travelling via the French ports of Marseille and Sète, the Italian port of Genoa, Nador in northeastern Morocco or now the Portuguese port of Portimao. A measure that slowed down the journey by more than 16 hours and also made it more expensive, according to estimates of up to 1,400 euros. However, they have found in flights an alternative to go to their homeland.

The Moroccan government will reopen flights with Iberia after the Moroccan authorities announced the reopening of its borders on 15 June. The company will once again offer routes from Madrid to Marrakech, Casablanca and Tangier, but with some restrictions, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

The statement explained that access to Morocco will depend on two different health protocols related to the evolution of the pandemic situation, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, in the countries from which the flights originate.

Rabat, which aims to achieve a collective immunity of 80 per cent of the population, launched a massive vaccination campaign in January. For the time being, 6 million people in Morocco have been vaccinated with doses of the Chinese Sinopharm and British AstraZeneca vaccines. In view of the favourable epidemiological situation, the authorities are proposing a gradual reopening to allow the arrival of visitors for the summer period.
 

In order to undertake the opening, the Moroccan authorities have classified the countries into two lists according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data. List 'A' lists those countries that have kept the incidence of the virus under control and are registering positive indicators, "in particular with the spread of variants".

List 'B' contains all those countries experiencing "a dispersion of variants or the absence of accurate statistics", according to the authorities. Travellers from countries on this list must obtain exceptional authorisations before travelling, present a negative PCR test within 48 hours of entering the national territory and, ultimately, undergo a 10-day isolation. 

The Moroccan government added that the 'A' and 'B' lists will be published regularly on the websites of the ministries responsible for Foreign Affairs, Health and Tourism. In addition, both lists will be updated regularly, at least twice a month, in principle.

Through its website, the airline is currently offering return tickets to Marrakech from 64 euros, to Tangier from 97 euros and to Casablanca from 142 euros. All tickets have the flexibility to make, free of charge, the necessary changes in case of unforeseen events due to COVID-19.

During the months of July and August, it will fly every day between Madrid and Marrakech with A320 aircraft, which have a capacity for 180 people. In Casablanca it will have five weekly frequencies, operated by Air Nostrum CRJ1000 aircraft, with capacity for 100 passengers. And in the case of Tangier, it will offer its customers three flights a week, also with Air Nostrum CRJ1000 aircraft.