Royal Activities
Wednesday 23 January 2019

HM the King Inaugurates Terminal 1 of Casablanca Mohammed V Airport, Launches Entry Into Operational Use of Airport Infrastructure of National Scope

HM the King Inaugurates Terminal 1 of Casablanca Mohammed V Airport, Launches Entry Into Operational Use of Airport Infrastructure of National Scope

HM King Mohammed VI inaugurated, on Tuesday, the extension, redevelopment and modernization project for the Terminal 1 of Casablanca Mohammed V Airport worth 1.585 billion dirhams.

On this occasion, the sovereign launched the entry into operational use of the new center for regional control (CCR) of Agadir air navigation safety, as well as the new air terminals of the airports of Guelmim, Zagora, and Errachidia Moulay Ali Cherif, carried out by the National Office of Airports (ONDA) for 647.73 million dirhams.

These projects are in line with the Royal Instructions aimed at providing the various cities of the Kingdom with modern airport infrastructure that meet international standards to satisfy the continuous growth of passenger traffic and back up the region's socio-economic and tourist development.

They are part of ONDA's strategy to increase the reception capacity of regional airports and generalize the conformity with international standards for air traffic flows, aviation safety, airport security and quality of services.

The extension, redevelopment and modernization project for the Terminal 1 of Casablanca Mohammed V Airport, deemed an airport hub in the region, brings the airport's overall capacity to 14 million passengers a year.

The new Terminal is also an important platform for boosting the economic and financial activities of the economic capital of the Kingdom, including its financial center "Casa Finance City".

Covering an area of 76,000 square meters, the new Terminal 1, which will handle an annual traffic of 7 million passengers, comprises eight new aircraft parking spaces, including three for large planes and one for Airbus 380.

It includes moving walkways, automatic doors, escalators, elevators, clear and visible signage, and 9 telescopic walkways.

Housing a national and international transit zone, the Terminal 1 also includes offices of the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity to provide advice and assistance for Moroccan expatriates, as well as banks and insurance agencies, shopping malls arranged according to the new concept of "walkthrough", and areas for catering and relaxation, worship and children.

The redevelopment and extension works also involved the construction of a pedestrian esplanade with green areas outside the airport, and a two-level car park for 2.075 vehicles.

On this occasion, the sovereign launched the entry into operational use of the new center for regional control of Agadir air navigation safety which is aimed at decentralizing the air traffic control service and increasing the capacity of Moroccan airspace to fly over.

This new center, in addition to that of Casablanca, inaugurated by the Sovereign on December 14, 2007, will also contribute to reducing the disruption risk when the Regional Center of Casablanca is unavailable.

Built over a surface area of 3 hectares, near the Agadir Al-Massira airport, the new center, which boasts modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art technological equipment, will ensure, alongside that of Casablanca, the safety of the Moroccan air traffic.

Other projects inaugurated today by HM the King are the new air terminals of Guelmim, Zagora and Errachidia Moulay Ali Cherif airports.

The development project of the new airport terminal of Guelmim consisted of building a new terminal on a surface area of 7,000 m2, with an annual capacity of 700,000 passengers, the construction on a surface area of 2,000 m2 of administrative and technical buildings, the extension and upgrading of the aircraft movement area, the strengthening of the runway, and the development of an aircraft parking space for 4 medium-haul aircraft.

As for the Zagora airport development project, it consisted of the construction of a new terminal - with a capacity of 250,000 passengers per year - the construction of a control tower and several technical and administrative buildings, the extension of the runway and the strengthening of the aircraft parking.

The Errachidia Moulay Ali Cherif airport development project consisted of the construction of a new terminal with a total surface area of 3,500 m2, capable of accommodating up to 300,000 passengers yearly.

MAP 22 January 2019