# Marrakech-Ménara Airport: an extension to accommodate 16 million passengers > Marrakech is no longer short of travellers. Above all, it is starting to run out of space to accommodate them. In 2025, Marrakech-Ménara Airport passed the 10 million annual passenger mark for the first time. It… ## Document information - **Source:** https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/marrakech-menara-airport-extension-16-million-passengers/ - **Canonical URL:** https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/marrakech-menara-airport-extension-16-million-passengers/ - **Language:** EN - **Content type:** Article / guide - **Last updated:** 2026-08-11T14:31:16+00:00 ## Page content Property news ## Marrakech-Ménara Airport: an extension to accommodate 16 million passengers 9 min read S **Article summary** Go directly to the different sections *10 sections* *+* - [A works contract awarded for 1.8 billion dirhams](#a-works-contract-awarded-for-1-8-billion-dirhams) - [An enlarged and completely reorganised terminal](#an-enlarged-and-completely-reorganised-terminal) - [Access and parking are also part of the works](#access-and-parking-are-also-part-of-the-works) - [More space for aircraft](#more-space-for-aircraft) - [Why Marrakech needs capacity for 16 million passengers](#why-marrakech-needs-capacity-for-16-million-passengers) - [An obvious effect on tourism, less automatic on property](#an-obvious-effect-on-tourism-less-automatic-on-property) - [Nearby neighbourhoods will not all benefit in the same way](#nearby-neighbourhoods-will-not-all-benefit-in-the-same-way) - [Holiday rentals could benefit from increased traffic](#holiday-rentals-could-benefit-from-increased-traffic) - [The prime market is focused above all on international connectivity](#the-prime-market-is-focused-above-all-on-international-connectivity) - [A project to monitor, not an achievement already secured](#a-project-to-monitor-not-an-achievement-already-secured) Written by **Cameron Immobilier Marrakech** [Cameron Journal All the latest property news from Marrakech →](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/journal/) Share [f](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cameron-marrakech.com%2Fen%2Fmarrakech-menara-airport-extension-16-million-passengers%2F) [in](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cameron-marrakech.com%2Fen%2Fmarrakech-menara-airport-extension-16-million-passengers%2F) [✉](mailto:?subject=Marrakech-M%C3%A9nara%20Airport%3A%20an%20extension%20to%20accommodate%2016%20million%20passengers&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cameron-marrakech.com%2Fen%2Fmarrakech-menara-airport-extension-16-million-passengers%2F) Marrakech is no longer short of travellers. Above all, it is starting to run out of space to accommodate them. In 2025, Marrakech-Ménara Airport passed the 10 million annual passenger mark for the first time. It accounted on its own for almost 28% of national air traffic, behind Casablanca but well ahead of most other Moroccan airports. This growth confirms the city’s importance as a tourist destination, while also placing the airport under increasing pressure. During periods of heavy traffic, queues, circulation around the terminal, baggage collection and security checks regularly become pressure points. The terminal opened in 2016 enabled Marrakech to move up to a new scale. Less than ten years later, its capacity has already been overtaken by traffic growth. The Office National des Aéroports has therefore launched a new extension as part of its “Aéroports 2030” strategy. The project is not simply a matter of renovating a few departure lounges. It is intended to fundamentally reorganise the airport and increase its capacity to approximately 16 million passengers per year. ### A works contract awarded for 1.8 billion dirhams The main contract for extending and redeveloping the terminal facilities was awarded to Jet Contractors in August 2025. The selected amount is approximately 1.806 billion dirhams, excluding taxes and customs duties. Including the relevant taxes and duties, the announced cost exceeds 2.2 billion dirhams. ONDA’s initial estimate was around 2.4 billion dirhams. The project is expected to increase the terminal area to approximately 142,000 m². The capacity target is set at 16 million passengers per year, compared with a reference capacity of 7.4 million indicated in the documents relating to the contract. The difference from figures previously communicated by ONDA may cause confusion. The official project page still refers to a target capacity of 11.5 million passengers and an area of approximately 130,000 m². It also announced that work would begin in the final quarter of 2024. The project parameters were evidently increased between the initial studies and the award of the contract in 2025. The targets of 16 million passengers and 142,000 m² correspond to the more recent version presented when the works were awarded. ### An enlarged and completely reorganised terminal The extension is mainly planned around the existing terminals. The basement will house, in particular, baggage sorting and handling systems, as well as several technical rooms. On the ground floor, the project provides for new check-in areas, security and border-police control points, and departure lounges. A link between the different terminals is also to be created or reorganised. The upper floors will be dedicated to arrival routes, international departure lounges and arrival checks. The baggage reclaim area will also be redeveloped. The challenge concerns both space and organisation. A larger terminal solves little if passengers continue to cross paths, checks create bottlenecks or baggage takes too long to arrive. The Aéroports 2030 strategy places a particular emphasis on making the passenger journey more fluid: check-in, security, immigration, boarding and baggage reclaim. It also provides for greater use of digital tools and automated equipment. ### Access and parking are also part of the works The airport cannot handle more passengers without reviewing its landside access. The contract provides for an extension to the car park on the city side. Even before the main works began, ONDA had already reorganised Marrakech-Ménara’s external areas: traffic routes, drop-off areas, signage and terminal access according to the airlines. These changes address a daily problem. The airport is only a few kilometres from central Marrakech, which is a major advantage for travellers. However, this proximity brings vehicular flows into direct contact with already urbanised neighbourhoods and heavily trafficked routes. Increasing terminal capacity will therefore need to be accompanied by a lasting improvement in traffic flows between the airport, M’Hamid, Ménara, Hivernage, Agdal and the city’s main outward routes. Without effective public transport and better organisation of taxis, shuttles and private vehicles, some of the gains made inside the terminal could be lost in congestion outside. ### More space for aircraft The development does not concern only the passenger building. In the project’s general presentation, ONDA also plans to duplicate certain runway access routes in order to streamline pre-departure procedures. Aircraft parking is to be expanded to accommodate 40 Category C aircraft on remote stands. This category includes many narrow-body aircraft used on European routes, which account for a significant share of Marrakech’s traffic. In the longer term, aircraft parking areas are to be reorganised around the terminal. The airport currently has a main runway measuring 3,100 metres, capable of accommodating long-haul aircraft. The immediate challenge therefore concerns above all terminal capacity, aircraft parking and the speed at which passengers are processed. ### Why Marrakech needs capacity for 16 million passengers The figure may seem very high. It appears less disproportionate when compared with the 10 million passengers already recorded in 2025. Infrastructure cannot be designed solely for current traffic. It must retain sufficient capacity to absorb several years of growth, peak periods and the opening of new routes. Marrakech’s growth is based primarily on direct international routes. The city is no longer connected only to the major European hubs. It is gradually attracting longer flights and travellers from more diverse markets. The national strategy also aims to prepare Moroccan airports for major international events, including the 2030 World Cup. The event is accelerating investment, but it is not the sole explanation for the need to extend the airport. Passenger figures show that the airport was already close to its limits well before 2030. In May 2026, ONDA’s board of directors also confirmed that the Marrakech-Ménara extension was among the projects actually under way as part of its 2026–2028 action plan. ### An obvious effect on tourism, less automatic on property A larger airport theoretically makes it possible to accommodate more flights, more travellers and more airlines. For Marrakech, the consequences for tourism are fairly direct. Better connectivity can support hotels, guest houses, holiday rentals, restaurants, shops and leisure activities. It also facilitates short breaks, which are particularly dependent on the frequency and simplicity of air connections. The effect on property is more complex. A city with better international connections generally becomes more accessible to international buyers and second-home owners. The ability to reach Marrakech quickly from Paris, London, Madrid, Brussels or other major European cities is already one of its main attractions. New routes may broaden this clientele and strengthen demand for central flats, villas maintained throughout the year and properties within residences offering services. But expanding an airport does not automatically drive property prices upwards. The value of a property always depends on its precise location, quality, surroundings, initial price and the balance between supply and demand. Better air links are a favourable factor at destination level. They do not turn every plot of land or flat into a profitable investment. ### Nearby neighbourhoods will not all benefit in the same way Being in the immediate vicinity of an airport can be either an advantage or a constraint. For Hivernage, Agdal and certain parts of Ménara, rapid access to the terminal enhances the appeal of these areas for frequent travellers, second-home residents and investors seeking a central location. For M’Hamid and areas closer to aviation infrastructure, the analysis must be more precise. Proximity can improve accessibility and support certain economic activities, but it can also bring more traffic, noise and planning constraints. A direct view of the runways or quick access to the terminal should not be marketed as a universal advantage. For a hotel, a residence intended for short stays or offices, it may be attractive. For a family villa seeking tranquillity, it may have the opposite effect. Property projects located around the airport must also take account of aviation easements, height restrictions and the rules set out in planning documents. ### Holiday rentals could benefit from increased traffic An increase in passenger numbers may naturally drive demand for short-term accommodation. However, one additional traveller does not automatically translate into one additional night in a flat rented through a platform. Some visitors stay in hotels, with relatives or in accommodation that is already being operated. The Marrakesh market has also become more competitive. Many flats and villas are now offered on a nightly basis, with widely varying levels of quality. The airport extension may increase the overall volume of potential guests. It does not guarantee the occupancy rate of any particular property. A property’s performance will continue to depend on its location, reviews, management, price, the quality of its photographs and compliance with the regulations governing tourist rentals. Presenting the future airport as proof that a flat will automatically be profitable would therefore be a weak sales argument. ### The prime market is focused above all on international connectivity For premium property, the most interesting effect is probably the multiplication of direct routes. Buyers of villas, branded residences or golf properties do not choose Marrakech solely on the basis of rental returns. They also consider how easily they will be able to use their property. A second home loses some of its appeal when reaching it requires several connections or a full day of travel. Conversely, a city accessible within a few hours and served several times a week can become a genuine extension of one’s primary home. The extension of Marrakech-Ménara reinforces this logic. It will enable the city to prepare for more flights without excessively degrading the passenger experience. The airlines must, however, actually open new routes and maintain them over time. A terminal provides capacity. It does not create air-travel demand on its own. ### A project to monitor, not an achievement already secured The project is under way and the main contract has been awarded. This does not mean that the timetable is definitively secured. Airport extensions are complex operations. The works must be carried out while maintaining activity, complying with strict security requirements and limiting disruption for passengers. Programme changes, technical adjustments and delays remain possible. The difference between the initial data published by the [ONDA](https://www.onda.ma/) and the more recent parameters of the contract also shows that the project has already increased in scale. Buyers and property professionals should therefore avoid announcing a precise completion date until it has been officially confirmed. The only certainty is that Marrakech-Ménara can no longer remain in its current configuration. With more than 10 million passengers in 2025 and traffic expected to continue rising, the extension is no longer a matter of comfort. It is becoming essential infrastructure for the city’s development. For property, its impact will be real but diffuse: greater international visibility, improved accessibility and potentially a broader clientele. The increase in a property’s value, however, will continue to be determined at a much more precise level — street by street, residence by residence and project by project. *This article presents the information available on its publication date. The project’s capacities, timetable and characteristics may still evolve during its implementation.* [!(Marrakech Property Price Evolution from 2016 to 2026: What Has Really Increased)(https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/evolution-des-prix-immobiliers-a-marrakech-de-2016-a-2026-ce-qui-a-reellement-augmente-featured-image-1024x576.webp)](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/marrakech-property-price-evolution-2016-2026/) [Buy & invest](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/category/buy-invest/) • 12 min read ### [Marrakech Property Price Evolution from 2016 to 2026: What Has Really Increased](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/marrakech-property-price-evolution-2016-2026/) When owners and property professionals who have been established in Marrakech for many years are asked about the market, the conclusion seems obvious: property prices have risen sharply. Plots of… [Read the article→](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/marrakech-property-price-evolution-2016-2026/) [!(Branded Residences in Marrakech: Property Luxury Enters a New Dimension)(https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/residences-de-marque-a-marrakech-le-luxe-immobilier-change-de-dimension-featured-image-1024x576.webp)](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/branded-residences-marrakech-property-luxury-new-dimension/) [Property news](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/category/property-news/) • 11 min read ### [Branded Residences in Marrakech: Property Luxury Enters a New Dimension](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/branded-residences-marrakech-property-luxury-new-dimension/) Marrakech was already home to golf villas, private estates and high-end residences with concierge services. A new category of property is now taking up more space: residences directly associated with… [Read the article→](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/branded-residences-marrakech-property-luxury-new-dimension/) [!(Property Powers of Attorney in Morocco: What Has Changed Since 1 June 2026)(https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/procurations-immobilieres-au-maroc-ce-qui-change-depuis-le-1er-juin-2026-featured-image-1024x576.webp)](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/morocco-property-powers-of-attorney-register/) [Buy & invest](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/category/buy-invest/) • 11 min read ### [Property Powers of Attorney in Morocco: What Has Changed Since 1 June 2026](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/morocco-property-powers-of-attorney-register/) Selling an apartment in Marrakech from Paris, buying a villa without being able to attend the signing, or entrusting the management of an estate to a relative remains entirely possible.… [Read the article→](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/morocco-property-powers-of-attorney-register/) Your project in Marrakech ### Moving from information to decision-making Get in touch with Cameron to buy, sell, let or get a valuation for a property in Marrakech. [Speak to an adviser→](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/contact/) ## Language versions - [Français — HTML](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/aeroport-marrakech-menara-une-extension-pour-accueillir-16-millions-de-passagers/) — [Markdown](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/llms-content/post-373-fr.md) - [English — HTML](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/en/marrakech-menara-airport-extension-16-million-passengers/) — [Markdown](https://www.cameron-marrakech.com/llms-content/post-1560-en.md)