The first commercial flight from Israel to Morocco took place today. Flying Carpet organized a trip by 180 tourists and correspondents. The Moroccan authorities, including the ministries of foreign affairs, tourism, and the interior recently approved the flight, following strenuous efforts. A Spanish aircraft made the flight.
The plane made a one-hour transit stop in Spain, before continuing to Morocco. For various reasons, the Moroccans for now prefer that the flights make a stopover in Spain. The flight, including the stopover, lasted six hours.
Flying Carpet owner and general manager Yaron Miller said, "This was the first in a series of flights of tourists from Israel to Morocco. A ten-day organized tour will leave on Monday, on the same route, flown by the same Spanish aircraft."
Groups of Israeli tourists visited Morocco before the outbreak of the intifada in September 2000, but they travel by indirect flights.
In addition to the ten-day organized tours, four-day weekend trips, similar to today's trip, are planned for Marrakesh. Later, Flying Carpet will organize 14-day tours.
Today's flight was fully booked. Flying Carpet VP marketing Eyal Kashdan said demand was high for the upcoming flights as well. Weekend jaunts to Marrakesh will cost $499 and up, and the ten-day organized tours cost $999.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 12, 2004