How to read the Marrakech Menara Airport arrivals board
The board above shows all arriving flights at Marrakech Menara Airport, across every airline. Times are in Marrakech local time, not the time in the departure city: that is the most common source of confusion when you are picking someone up.
- Scheduled: the time set by the airline. It does not change, even if the flight is late.
- Estimated: the landing time recalculated in flight. This is the one to watch.
- Landed: the aircraft is on the ground. Add 30 to 60 minutes before the passenger walks out.
- Delayed / Cancelled / Diverted: contact the airline; a diverted flight usually lands in Casablanca or Agadir.
For a flight leaving Marrakech, see the Marrakech airport departures board.
Arrival times: when Marrakech airport is busiest
Marrakech Menara Airport receives its flights in waves. A first wave lands late morning and early afternoon, with flights that left Europe early. But the real peak is between 8 pm and midnight, when low-cost airlines land one after another from the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Belgium. Several aircraft then arrive within the same half hour, and the passport control queue grows.
If you have the choice, a flight landing between 1 pm and 5 pm will save you half an hour at the exit. If you arrive in the evening, the Marrakech airport fast track service lets you clear the controls through a dedicated lane.
Airlines and origins of flights to Marrakech Menara Airport
Most flights arriving in Marrakech come from Europe. Depending on the season, the board shows Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2, Transavia, Royal Air Maroc, British Airways, Vueling, TUI, Wizz Air and Air France, among others.
- UK and Ireland: London (Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, Heathrow), Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Dublin.
- France and Benelux: Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Brussels, Amsterdam, Eindhoven.
- Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Malaga, Milan, Rome, Bologna, Munich, Frankfurt, Geneva.
- Morocco and the Middle East: Casablanca, plus seasonal links to the Gulf.
To find a flight to Marrakech from your city, use our flight comparison.
Entry formalities: passport and visa
Citizens of the EU, the UK, the US, Canada and Switzerland enter Morocco without a visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days, with a passport valid for the whole stay. The paper police card was abolished in September 2019: you simply show your passport, which is stamped. Keep your accommodation address handy, as the officer may ask for it. Children travelling with only one parent should carry consent from the other parent.
Withdrawing cash at Marrakech airport
This is the step not to skip. Taxis do not take cards and dirhams cannot be bought outside Morocco, so the arrivals hall is your first exchange point. The ATMs work well but tend to dispense MAD 200 notes. Take out enough for the ride and the first few days, then break a note at the terminal café: MAD 50 and 100 notes avoid arguments about change in the taxi. All the tips are in our guide to money and exchange in Morocco.
Leaving Marrakech Menara Airport: taxi, transfer or bus 19
You will be approached before you even reach the door. It is rarely aggressive, but worth anticipating: the official taxi rank is right outside the exit, and its board shows fares by zone. Any offer made inside the terminal is outside that system.
| Option | Price | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | from €27 / vehicle | 15–30 min | Medina riad, night arrival, families |
| Official petit taxi | MAD 100–150 (day) | 15–30 min | Gueliz, Hivernage by day, max. 3 people |
| Bus 19 (ALSA) | MAD 30 / person | ≈ 20 min | Tight budget, light luggage, before 11.30 pm |
For a hotel in Gueliz or the Hivernage by day, a taxi is fine: agree the posted fare before the boot opens (see our Marrakech taxi tips). For a medina riad, a flight after 9 pm or a group of four or more, a pre-booked transfer settles the price, the vehicle and the drop-off gate in advance. Full details on the airport transfers page.
Meeting someone at Marrakech airport
Picking someone up at Marrakech airport? Follow the flight on the arrivals board and leave home based on the estimated time, not the scheduled one. Only passengers enter the baggage area: you wait in the public hall, facing the exit doors. Plan to arrive 20 to 30 minutes after landing. By car, the drop-off zone is for short stops only; to wait, use the airport car park, a few minutes' walk from the terminal.
If a driver is waiting for you (pre-booked transfer or riad pick-up), the meeting point is in front of the arrivals hall, with a sign bearing your name. Message the driver as soon as you have signal, even before customs: a Morocco eSIM activated before you fly saves hunting for the terminal Wi-Fi.
Arriving in Marrakech at night
A large share of low-cost flights land between 9 pm and 1 am. Three practical consequences: taxis switch to the night fare, MAD 150 to 240; bus 19 stops running after 11.30 pm; and the dimly lit medina lanes are no place to hunt for a riad with a suitcase. If your flight lands late, a pre-booked transfer is not a luxury: the driver tracks the flight number and waits if you are delayed.
Delayed, cancelled or diverted flight to Marrakech Menara Airport
If your flight reaches Marrakech more than three hours late, you may be entitled to compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 (or its UK equivalent): it covers every flight departing the EU or the UK, whatever the airline. For a 1,500 to 3,500 km journey, such as London–Marrakech, the amount is €400 (or £350) per passenger. Check your rights on our flight compensation page. The airport is run by the Office National des Aéroports (ONDA), which also publishes official flight information.
For terminals, services and the terminal layout, see our Marrakech airport guide.