PLAY Airlines Expands Morocco Routes with New Direct Flights to Agadir
Doha – Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY has announced direct flights between Keflavik Airport, near Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, and Agadir, Morocco. The new service will begin December 19, with flights operating weekly on Fridays through mid-April 2026.
The flight duration is approximately five and a half hours. This marks PLAY's second Moroccan destination after Marrakech.
'Our objective is to offer Icelanders an exceptional choice of sunny destinations, and Agadir won't disappoint,' said Einar Örn Ólafsson, PLAY's CEO. Agadir boasts a climate similar to Tenerife, with around 300 days of sunshine annually.
The route's winter schedule covers major holidays, including Christmas and Easter.
Agadir is known for its golden beaches and world-class golf courses. The Atlantic coastal city has undergone extensive redevelopment in recent years. These improvements aim to create a relaxed, pleasant experience for both residents and visitors. The city features modern infrastructure and various leisure activities, including seaside promenades.
The addition of Agadir expands PLAY's leisure network to 16 destinations from Iceland. These include eight locations in Spain, four in Portugal, Split in Croatia, and Antalya in Turkey.
PLAY first entered the Moroccan market in 2024, with direct flights between Reykjavik and Marrakech launching on October 17. The route operates twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays.
The Marrakech service resulted from a collaboration between PLAY and the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT). The partnership aimed to leverage Iceland's position as a transatlantic hub. PLAY connects five major North American airports through Reykjavik: New York, Washington, Baltimore, Boston, and Toronto.
ONMT has identified Iceland as a strategic market for Morocco. The agency launched promotional campaigns in Scandinavian countries, including the 'Light Tour' from May 27-30, 2024. The event attracted over 150 key players in Scandinavian tourism.
Morocco has seen increased airline interest ahead of co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. PLAY currently operates with a fleet of 10 Airbus A320neo family aircraft.
Read also: Binter Announces Flights Between Agadir, Canary Islands for MAD 524 Tags: AgadirairlinesIceland
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
40 minutes ago
- Morocco World
Marhaba 2025: Morocco to Boost Maritime Transport with 520 Weekly Sailings
Rabat– Morocco will boost its special maritime passenger transport to and from southern Europe with 520 weekly sailings under the Marhaba 2025 operation. This was announced Thursday by Mustapha Baitas, government spokesperson and Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament. Speaking after the weekly government council meeting, Baitas said that the operation, will increase transport capacity to 500,000 passengers and 130,000 vehicles per week. To meet this demand, 29 vessels from seven shipping companies will operate 12 routes connecting Moroccan ports with key ports in Italy, France, and Spain. The operation also focuses on strengthening security by enhancing border control equipment and offering close support through 24 reception centers—18 inside Morocco and six abroad. Specialized medical teams will be deployed along major roads and rest areas to ensure travelers' health and safety. Additionally, consular services will be mobilized on weekends and holidays from June 15 to September 15 to assist travelers. This year's Marhaba operation is set against expectations of an unprecedented influx of about 3.5 million travelers, primarily Moroccans living in Europe, representing a 4% increase over previous years. Around 890,000 vehicles are expected to cross the Strait of Gibraltar, marking a 5% rise that may be partly attributed to Spain's migrant regularization program. An investment of approximately MAD 28 million (around $2.8 million) has been dedicated to upgrading reception infrastructure at Tanger-Med port to better handle the flow. Overall, Marhaba 2025 aims to ensure smooth traffic management, enhanced security, proximity support, and heightened health vigilance, in line with royal directives to guarantee a safe and efficient return for Moroccans abroad during the summer season. Tags: Marhaba 2025Morocco TourismTourism
Ya Biladi
an hour ago
- Ya Biladi
Welcome 2025: 520 Weekly Maritime Connections Between Morocco and Southern Europe
The special offer for passenger maritime transport between Morocco and southern Europe as part of the Marhaba 2025 operation will be enhanced by 520 weekly crossings to accommodate the expected flow during the summer period, stated Mustapha Baitas, the Minister Delegate in charge of Relations with Parliament and government spokesperson, on Thursday. In response to journalists' questions following the government council meeting, the minister emphasized that as part of the Marhaba 2025 operation, the capacity of the special maritime transport offer has been increased to 500,000 passengers and 130,000 vehicles per week. In this regard, Baitas reported the mobilization of 29 ships belonging to seven maritime companies to ensure 12 routes between Moroccan ports and those in Italy, France, and Spain. The efforts made to ensure the success of this operation also focus on improving security through the strengthening of border control equipment and close support via 24 reception centers, including 18 within the national territory and 6 abroad, in addition to the mobilization of specialized medical teams on the roads and in rest areas, he stated. He continued by saying that consular services will be mobilized, as usual, on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from June 15 to September 15.
Ya Biladi
an hour ago
- Ya Biladi
UK-Morocco forge educational ties : New agreements boost English learning and Academic mobility
During his two-day visit to Morocco on June 2, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy concluded educational agreements as part of the UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue. A new Memorandum of Understanding establishes a Joint Steering Committee to coordinate joint research projects, transnational education programs, and English-language instruction initiatives. The agreement builds on the 2019 Higher Education Commission framework. Morocco's Ministry of Education announced it will match-fund the British Council's existing "English for Teaching" program, enabling the national expansion of pre-service training for secondary school English teachers and inspectors. This supports Morocco's objective to increase access to quality English education. In a significant policy shift, Morocco committed to automatically recognize UK higher education qualifications for Moroccan students studying in Britain. The country also pledged to facilitate the establishment of UK university campuses in Morocco while recognizing locally-delivered UK degrees. A stakeholder breakfast in Rabat brought together business leaders, educators, English teachers, and policymakers to discuss English language growth in Morocco. The agreements aim to strengthen institutional ties, increase academic mobility, and address global challenges through collaborative innovation.
