ONMT and United Airlines launch the first direct flight New York – Marrakech

As of October 25, 2024, United Airlines operates a direct connection between New York and Marrakech, with three weekly frequencies (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). The flight takes place on board a Boeing 767-300, with a capacity of 167 passengers. The Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) followed the first flight today as part of its Light in Action plan. As part of the strategy aimed at the American market, the annual goal is to reach one million American tourists.

This past Friday morning, the plane landed on the tarmac of Marrakech – Menara airport, thus making “the first point-to-point connection of an American company with Morocco and North Africa” ​​a reality. The program will go this was launched after the signing, last March, of an agreement between the ONMT and United Airlines.

A key figure from United Airlines was present at the ceremony, led by Patrick Quayle, the company’s senior vice president of Global Network and Alliances. “She was welcomed at Marrakech airport by a high-level Moroccan delegation, made up of ONMT teams and Moroccan tourism operators led by Hamid Bentahar”, president of the National Tourism Confederation ( CNT).

In addition to the American delegation, the flight included 35 travel consultants from the two largest American groups specializing in luxury tourism: Signature Travel Network and Virtuoso, which ‘ bringing together over 32,000 travel agents.

In June 2023, the ONMT signed partnership agreements with these two networks, to strengthen Morocco’s destination in the American market. These orderers will therefore discover the destinations of Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Essaouira and Agafay.