Israel was set to launch direct flights between Al Al Israel and Morocco’s Marrakesh on Sunday, nearly eight months after the two countries reached a US-backed normalization agreement.
“There is great excitement among all those involved in this historic event,” Captain Ishai Jacques of Israel Flight 6H061 told Army Radio on Sunday morning.
“We are busy studying the destination, administrative coordination, preparing the aircraft,” he said, shortly before the flight took off.
Israir flight was scheduled to depart at 8:15 am local and Al Al at 11:20
The El Al flight lounge was decorated with Moroccan flags, rugs and other items for flight LY553.
Morocco was one of four regional states to normalize relations with Israel in 2020, along with Bahrain, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates.
In honor of this morning’s inaugural flight to Morocco, the Elle lounge is decorated with Moroccan-style pottery. ???????????????
At this stage, there are two weekly flights on the Israel-Marrakesh route. pic.twitter.com/JptNEheocB– David Keshet ????? ???????? (@davidkesht12) July 25, 2021
The move comes as the administration of former US President Donald Trump recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, a disputed and divided former Spanish colony.
Round trip tickets for both airlines to Marrakesh cost around $500.
Al Al operated the first direct commercial flight between Tel Aviv and Rabat in December 2020.
Morocco is home to the largest Jewish community in North Africa, numbering around 3,000. About 700,000 Jews of Moroccan origin live in Israel.