World City Guide

Getting There By Air

Marrakech-Menara International Airport (RAK)
Tel: (044) 447 910 or 447 865 or 448 506. Fax: (044) 449 219.
Website: www.onda.org.ma/onda/autrea/marrakech.asp
The Marrakech-Menara International Airport is located about six kilometres (four miles) southwest of Marrakech. There are few direct international flights to the city as most fly via Casablanca, which is Morocco’s main international hub.

Major airlines: Morocco’s national airline is Royal Air Maroc (tel: (044) 436 205 or (0900) 00800 (national call centre); fax: (044) 446 002; e-mail: callcenter@royalairmaroc.co.ma; website: www.royalairmaroc.com ). It offers scheduled services direct to Marrakech three times a week from London Gatwick, five flights a week from Heathrow via Casablanca and connects Marrakech to all the major Moroccan cities, as well as Paris. Other direct scheduled services are offered by British Airways under its GB Airways subsidiary (London Gatwick) and Air France (Paris).

Approximate flight times to Marrakech: From London is 3 hours 45 minutes; from New York is 8 hours (via Casablanca); from Los Angeles is 14 hours (via Paris or London); from Toronto is 12 hours (via Montreal and Casablanca) and from Sydney is 19 hours (via Bangkok, Rome and Casablanca or various other combinations).

Airport facilities: These include banks, ATMs, a post office, a restaurant and snack bars, duty-free shops, general shops, a medical centre and tourist information. Avis, Budget, Europcar and Hertz all provide car hire services.

Business facilities: None.

Arrival/departure tax: Dh180 (included in the ticket price).

Transport to the city: Bus 11 is supposed to run to the old Arabic heart of the city, the medina, every half an hour, but services can be unpredictable. Tickets cost Dh10. There are taxiphones in the arrival and departure lounges and taxis can be caught near the bus stop. Taxi fares to the city are about Dh60 (journey time – 15 minutes). It is wise to agree the price before commencing the journey.