A new terminal entirely dedicated to business and private aviation was inaugurated on Saturday at the Marrakech-Menara International Airport, on the initiative of the National Airports Office (ONDA).
The inauguration ceremony of this new infrastructure has been enhanced by the presence, in particular, of the Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, Air Transport and Social Economy, Mrs Nadia Fettah Alaoui, the wali of the Marrakech-Safi region, Karim Kassi-Lahlou, the General Director of the ONDA, Zouhaïr Mohamed El Oufir, the General Director of the ONMT, Adel El Fakir, tourist operators, as well as other personalities.
Built on a surface area of 3,000 m2, this new business aviation terminal of the Marrakech-Menara airport is distinguished by its authentic architectural style and offers ideal conditions for welcoming VIP passengers.
This new terminal is organized in three spaces, the first of which was built by Jetex on an area of 2.500 m2, for an investment of 35 million DH.
Having generated no less than 40 new direct and indirect jobs, this Pavilion represents the second largest “Fixed Base Operator” (FBO) of Jetex throughout the world, after that of Dubai.
As for the second space, it was built by Swissport Executive Aviation Morocco and covers an area of about 525 m2. Considered as the largest FBO of the Swissport network worldwide, this pavilion mobilized investments of 7.5 MDH and created 14 direct and 10 indirect jobs.
In addition to the preparation of the land and the development of aircraft and vehicle car parks as well as access ramps, a central area was created by the ONDA dedicated to immigration formalities and security and safety control operations for passengers, crews and luggage.
The two renowned international operators “Jetex Executive Aviation Morocco” and “Swissport Executive Aviation Morocco”, were selected within the framework of an international call for tenders launched by the ONDA.
The introduction of these two operators has enabled ONDA to put in place an efficient framework for the development of business aviation, based on commitments to quality objectives, in line with the best international standards in terms of safety, security and quality of service.
With this new inauguration, the Marrakech – Menara airport is, from now on, the second airport platform in Morocco with a terminal entirely dedicated to business and private aviation after the international airport Mohammed V of Casablanca.
In a statement to the press on this occasion, Mrs. Fettah Alaoui welcomed the inauguration of this new business terminal. “This is a very important day for business aviation, which supports many economic sectors, especially tourism,” she said.
And the minister went on to say that the opening of this new terminal is in line with the continued improvement of the infrastructures placed at the service of the economy in general, and tourism in particular, noting that air transport activity is experiencing excellent growth, especially that of business aviation.
It also wished to point out that this infrastructure has been built in accordance with the highest world standards in this field.
The Director General of the ONDA, Zouhaïr Mohamed El Oufir, for his part, focused on the growth rate of business aviation which is 10% on a national scale, with a growth rate that is still significant for the city of Marrakech alone, welcoming the inauguration of this new infrastructure which he did not hesitate to describe as a “great achievement”.
“With this kind of new terminals, we want to give a new momentum to this key sector that can encourage the arrival of investors as well as the sustained promotion of Morocco as a destination in general, and Marrakech in particular,” he explained.
Business aviation, ONDA said, is distinguished from commercial aviation (regular national and international flights) offered by airlines and light aviation (sports and leisure flights in gliders).
The main uses of this segment of aviation are the transport of businessmen, medical evacuations, the transport of personalities by their own aircraft or through private aviation companies.
Aware of its significant development potential, ONDA launched an international call for proposals at the end of 2015 for the concession of ground services dedicated to business aviation under the Fixed Base Operator “FBO” concept.
Following this invitation to tender, two operating concessions were granted respectively to Jetex at the airports of Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat, Agadir and Dakhla and to Swissport Executive at the airports of Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat and Tangier.
The introduction of these two operators has enabled the ONDA to set up an efficient framework for the development of business aviation, based on commitments to quality objectives. The aim is to set up airport infrastructures, adapted equipment and integrated solutions for the benefit of business aviation operators, ensuring a quality of service in line with the best international standards.
Thus, two operating agreements have been signed with the Moroccan companies created by Jetex Flight Support and Swissport under the corporate names Jetex Executive Aviation Morocco and Swissport Executive Aviation Morocco.
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