Last updated: June 2026
Most travellers visiting Morocco do not need a domestic flight. The train and bus network is good enough, cheap enough, and - on the short hops - genuinely faster door-to-door than flying. But there are specific situations where a domestic flight makes real sense, and one route where it is almost the only practical option. This guide gives you the honest picture.
I have flown domestically in Morocco twice across six trips - once Casablanca to Dakhla, once Casablanca to Agadir when I was badly short on time. I have also watched fellow travellers buy expensive internal tickets for routes where the train would have been quicker. Hopefully this saves you from doing the same.
The Domestic Airline Options
Two airlines dominate Morocco’s internal routes.
Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is the national carrier and has by far the widest domestic network - around 19 destinations including Agadir, Al Hoceima, Casablanca, Dakhla, Er-Rachidia, Fes, Guelmim, Laayoune, Marrakech, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat, Smaara, Tan-Tan, Tangier, Tetouan, and Zagora. Casablanca Mohammed V (CMN) is the hub everything connects through. If you need to get somewhere obscure - Guelmim, Zagora, Smaara - RAM is essentially your only option.
Air Arabia Maroc (3O) is the budget carrier and runs 8 domestic routes, concentrated on the busiest corridors: Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Fes, Agadir, Nador, Rabat, and Oujda. Fares are competitive and booking is straightforward through their website or third-party tools like Skyscanner.
Both airlines use smaller regional aircraft on domestic runs. RAM uses the ATR 72 turboprop on many routes, which is fine - just slower and lower than a jet, and noticeably noisier.
Realistic Prices
Domestic fares in Morocco are not as cheap as you might expect. Budget roughly:
- Casablanca to Agadir: 400-800 MAD one-way (around £30-60) on a standard booking. Sales exist but are erratic.
- Casablanca to Marrakech: 350-700 MAD one-way, though the train undercuts this heavily in value.
- Casablanca to Fes: 400-750 MAD one-way.
- Casablanca to Dakhla: 800-1,400 MAD one-way (around £60-110). Book 3-4 weeks ahead if you can - prices climb sharply close to travel.
Air Arabia Maroc tends to be 10-20% cheaper than RAM on the routes it covers. Worth checking both when you are on a budget corridor.
One-way fares are rarely excellent value compared to trains on short routes. Where the maths shifts is on the long-haul southern routes, and for travellers connecting from an international arrival with very limited time.
Baggage: Read This Before You Book
This catches people out. RAM’s domestic checked baggage policy is not generous. Their Economy Eco/Essential fare (the cheapest tier you’ll see on comparison sites) includes zero checked bags - carry-on only. You need to select a higher fare tier or pay to add a bag.
The carry-on allowance for Economy is 10 kg, which is tighter than many people expect for a multi-week trip.
If your carry-on is over 10 kg at the gate, you may be asked to check it and pay an excess fee - reportedly around 640 MAD (roughly £50) on some domestic routes. That fee can turn a cheap ticket into an expensive one fast.
Air Arabia Maroc has similar dynamics at the budget end. Always check the exact baggage allowance on your specific fare before you buy.
Practical tip: if you are doing a one-way domestic hop mid-trip with luggage already packed for a full Morocco stay, check a bag into your fare or accept you are on a pricier fare tier. Do not assume a low headline price includes your rucksack.
The Route Where Flying Wins: The Deep South
This is where domestic flights genuinely earn their place.
Dakhla is around 1,700 km south of Casablanca, well into the Western Sahara. There is no rail connection. The overland bus from Marrakech to Dakhla - operated by CTM, the reliable national coach company - takes roughly 24 hours including transfers. Marrakech to Agadir alone is 3-3.5 hours. Dakhla to Agadir is a further 18 hours. That is a gruelling journey however you package it.
The RAM flight from Casablanca to Dakhla takes approximately 2.5 hours and runs daily from CMN. One-way fares start around 800 MAD but typically run 1,000-1,400 MAD for a standard booking. It is not cheap, but the alternative is essentially a full day of your trip sitting on a bus through the Saharan highway. For anyone heading to Dakhla for windsurfing, kitesurfing, or to see the wild Atlantic coast, flying is the obvious choice.
Laayoune (also called El Aaiun) is another southern destination where flying makes strong sense for the same reason - very long overland journey, daily RAM flights from Casablanca.
If your Morocco trip is a classic northern circuit - Marrakech, the Atlas, Fes, Chefchaouen, maybe Essaouira - you do not need to think about these routes at all. See the Morocco itineraries guide for how most routes actually work.
When Classic-Route Travellers Do Not Need to Fly
Let me be direct: if you are doing the standard Morocco tourist circuit, domestic flights are almost certainly unnecessary and may actively cost you time.
Casablanca to Marrakech is the most common temptation. The flight is 45 minutes. But: you need to be at CMN 90 minutes before departure minimum, the domestic terminal has its own check-in and security queue, and you then need to get from Marrakech Menara Airport into the medina (20-30 minutes, 70-150 MAD in a taxi). Total realistic time is 3-3.5 hours. The ONCF train takes 2 hours 39 minutes from Casa Port station, arrives centrally, costs roughly 140 MAD, and you can turn up 15 minutes before it leaves. The train wins.
Casablanca to Fes is similar. The train takes 3-4 hours, is comfortable, has a café car, and leaves from central stations. A flight adds airport time on both ends that erases any advantage.
Casablanca to Agadir is the first route where flying starts to make a real argument. There is no direct train. The bus journey is 8-9 hours. If you are time-poor and Agadir is your destination, a 1-hour flight becomes genuinely useful. Just factor in the full airport-to-destination time on both ends before you decide.
For a full comparison of ground transport options, the Morocco transport guide has the train and CTM bus breakdown in detail. The Morocco trains guide covers the rail network specifically.
The Airport Time Trap
This is the calculation most travellers miss.
Morocco’s main international airport, Mohammed V in Casablanca, is about 30 km south of the city centre. Getting there takes 30-45 minutes by taxi or train (the train actually connects directly, which helps). But for domestic connections specifically, you are checking in through the domestic terminal, going through security again, and often waiting on the airside with limited facilities.
Budget at minimum 2 hours airport time for any domestic RAM or Air Arabia Maroc departure. If your departure is from CMN after arriving internationally, add a connection buffer of at least 3 hours - domestic and international terminals are connected but the process takes time, and RAM domestic flights do not have the same on-time record as the trains.
Marrakech Menara and Agadir Al Massira airports are smaller and faster to move through, but the principle stands: flying domestically in Morocco rarely saves the time it appears to on paper.
Booking Tips
- Book RAM via royalairmaroc.com or Skyscanner. The website can be clunky but works. Skyscanner shows both RAM and Air Arabia Maroc on covered routes.
- Book 3-4 weeks ahead for Dakhla and Laayoune. Seats to the far south sell out and prices spike late.
- Check the fare tier carefully. The cheapest listing often has zero checked baggage. Run the numbers with your actual luggage before buying.
- Look at both RAM and Air Arabia Maroc on any route Air Arabia covers - they compete on price and the difference can be meaningful.
- Connecting through CMN? Check if a guided tour might make the south more practical. Many travellers visiting Dakhla do it as part of a wider southern Morocco experience. Have a look at what’s available on our tours page.
My Honest Verdict
Fly domestically in Morocco if:
- You are going to Dakhla or Laayoune - the ground journey is punishing and the flight is a genuine time-saver.
- You need to get to Agadir and have very limited days.
- You are connecting obscure southern towns (Guelmim, Tan-Tan, Zagora have small airports that RAM serves) and have a specific reason to be there quickly.
Do not fly if you are doing the classic northern Morocco circuit. The train is cheaper, often faster door-to-door, more comfortable, and puts you directly in the city rather than 20 km outside it.
Morocco has one of Africa’s better rail networks and a solid long-distance bus system. Use them. Save the flights for when the map genuinely demands it.
If you are planning a first or second trip and not sure which transport option fits your route, the Morocco trip planning guide is a good starting point. For the itinerary questions, Morocco itineraries shows how the different routes actually fit together in practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth flying between Marrakech and Casablanca?
No, in most cases. The ONCF train takes under 3 hours, costs around 140 MAD (roughly £11), and departs from central stations in both cities. Once you account for airport check-in time, security, and transfers at each end, flying rarely saves you any time and costs significantly more. The train is the right choice on this route.
How much does it cost to fly to Dakhla from Casablanca?
Royal Air Maroc one-way fares from Casablanca to Dakhla typically run 800-1,400 MAD (approximately £60-110) for standard bookings. Prices are cheaper when booked 3-4 weeks in advance - late bookings can be significantly more expensive. There are no rail links to Dakhla, and the overland bus journey takes around 24 hours, so the flight is generally the practical choice for this route.
Does Air Arabia Maroc fly domestically within Morocco?
Yes. Air Arabia Maroc operates on 8 domestic routes connecting Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech, Fes, Agadir, Nador, Rabat, and Oujda. They tend to be slightly cheaper than Royal Air Maroc on shared routes. They do not serve the far southern destinations like Dakhla or Laayoune - for those, you need RAM.
What is the baggage allowance on Royal Air Maroc domestic flights?
It depends on your fare tier. The cheapest Economy fares (Eco Essential) include no checked baggage - carry-on only, limited to 10 kg in Economy class. Standard Economy fares include one 23 kg checked bag. Check your specific fare at booking, as adding a bag later can be expensive. Air Arabia Maroc has similar tiered baggage policies.
How long before a domestic flight should I arrive at the airport in Morocco?
Allow at least 2 hours before departure. Morocco’s domestic airport processes are slower than in Western Europe, and queues at check-in and security can be unpredictable. If you are connecting from an international flight at Casablanca Mohammed V, build in at least 3 hours for the domestic connection - terminals are connected but the process takes time.
Are there direct flights between Marrakech and Fes?
Direct domestic flights between Marrakech and Fes are limited and not reliably scheduled - most routes go via Casablanca. Check RAM’s current timetable as schedules do change, but in most cases, travelling between Marrakech and Fes involves Casablanca as a stopover, which makes overland travel (bus or a combination of transport) more practical for this specific city pair.
