Morocco's Ambitious Airport Expansion to Handle World Cup Surge

Morocco has announced plans to expand Casablanca's airport by building a new terminal, which will boost capacity by 20 million passengers. The expansion aims to handle increased travel for the 2030 soccer World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. It is scheduled for completion in 2029.

On Wednesday, Morocco announced two expressions of interest to identify bidders for a new terminal at Casablanca's largest airport. This significant expansion initiative is set to enhance the airport's capacity by 20 million passengers. This is part of Morocco's ambition to double its overall airport capacity to 78 million in anticipation of the 2030 soccer World Cup, co-hosted with Spain and Portugal.

The scheduled completion for the terminal, expected to serve as an international hub, is in 2029, with an investment of $1.6 billion. Additionally, a high-speed train network will connect the hub to major cities including Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech, facilitating smoother travel.

With Morocco's tourism numbers reaching record highs, reporting 17.4 million visitors last year and projecting 26 million tourists by 2030, this airport expansion comes at a crucial time to accommodate the influx of international visitors.

(With inputs from agencies.)