Air Transat is to launch year-round flights to Morocco from next summer, marking the Canadian airline’s entry to the African continent.

The carrier plans to open a nonstop route connecting Montreal with Marrakesh, targeting inbound VFR traffic as well as outbound leisure passengers. According to Canada’s 2021 census, about 81,000 Canadians who claimed full or partial Moroccan ancestry live in Quebec, and nearly half of that population is in Montreal.

Service between Montreal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) will start on June 14, 2024, operating twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays through Oct. 24 using Airbus A321LR aircraft. The 3,574-mi. (3,106-nm) route will continue during the winter months with one roundtrip per week on Saturdays until April 20, 2025.

Air Transat President and CEO Annick Guérard says the route “marks a milestone in the evolution” of the carrier. “With the addition of Marrakesh to our portfolio of transatlantic destinations, the first in Africa, we are consolidating the diversification of our network.

“This exclusive, year-round service will meet the growing demand, generated by the significant presence of the Moroccan community in Montreal and the undeniable tourist appeal of Marrakesh.”

Air Transat will become the sole North American carrier to fly nonstop to Marrakesh once the route begins and the third airline to provide scheduled service between North America and Morocco. Data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser shows that Air Canada flies from YUL to Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), while Royal Air Maroc offers service from CMN to Miami, Montreal, New York John F. Kennedy and Washington Dulles.

“Canada, and more specifically Quebec, is a market of major importance for Morocco,” Moroccan National Tourism Office CEO Adel El Fakir says. “[The new route] will open up a wide range of possibilities for all travelers, both in the ochre city and also providing access to the seaside resorts of Essaouira, Agadir, Taghazout and tours in the southern part of Morocco.”

O&D traffic between Canada and Morocco totaled almost 200,000 two-way passengers in 2022, according to Sabre Market Intelligence figures, compared with 312,000 in 2019 before the pandemic. Montreal-Casablanca was the largest city pair last year, accounting for about 68% of total traffic between the two countries.

Earlier this month, Air Transat announced a robust schedule for the northern summer 2024 season, with plans to increase frequencies to Barcelona, Spain; Dublin, Ireland; and Manchester, England.