Morocco's $4.2 Billion Airport Overhaul for World Cup Success

Morocco plans to invest $4.2 billion over five years to upgrade its main airports in preparation for cohosting the World Cup with Portugal and Spain. The initiative, in collaboration with ONDA, aims to expand airport capacity significantly and accommodate a growing number of international visitors.

Morocco announced a groundbreaking initiative on Thursday to invest 38 billion dirhams ($4.2 billion) into revamping its primary airports over the next five years. This strategic move comes as the country gears up to cohost the World Cup alongside Portugal and Spain.

The Moroccan government and the airports authority ONDA inked a significant agreement, outlining an investment of 25 billion dirhams for airport expansion and 13 billion for maintenance and land acquisition. This partnership aims to increase airport capacity to 80 million passengers by 2030, up from the current 38 million.

Continued efforts in May saw Morocco issuing two expressions of interest to identify bidders for constructing a new terminal at Casablanca's largest airport, estimated to boost capacity by 20 million passengers. With a record 17.4 million visitors last year, Morocco ambitiously targets 26 million tourists by 2030.

(With inputs from agencies.)