RYANAIR ANNOUNCED TODAY that it will open two new bases in Morocco this year in Fez and Marrakech. There will be three based aircraft and Ryanair will invest over $210 million in Morocco as part of the expansion.

The airline also announced two new Moroccan airports, at Essaouira and Rabat as it grows its operations in Morocco in 2013 to 60 routes and 8 airports, which will deliver up to 2.5 million passenger a year and support up to 2,500 “on-site” jobs in Morocco.

The base in Fez will have one based aircraft and will fly 15 routes with 4 new routes to Lille, Nantes, Nimes and St Etienne.

At the new Marrakech base there will be two based aircraft offering 22 routes with 7 new routes through Baden, Bergeracm Cuneo, Dole, Munich, Paris and Tours.

Dr Lahcen Haddad, Minister of Tourism of Morocco, said the tourism sector is very proud of the confidence the airline was showing in “the capacity of the Moroccan destination to grow and develop to become a leading market”.

Ryanair celebrated its new Moroccan bases and airports by launching a 100,000 seat sale with fares starting from €15 for travel across its European network in February and March, which are available for booking until midnight 21 January. Ryanair’s new Moroccan routes will begin in April and will go on sale on tomorrow.