Marrakesh Menara Airport

Marrakesh Menara Airport (Arabic: مطار مراكش المنارة, French: Aéroport de Marrakech-Ménara, IATA: RAK, ICAO: GMMX) is an international airport serving Marrakesh, the capital city of the Marrakesh-Safi region in Morocco. It is an international facility that receives several European flights as well as flights from Casablanca, the Arab world nations and from 2024, flights from North America. The airport served over 6.3 million passengers in 2019.

1. History

During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command as a hub for cargo, transiting aircraft and personnel. It functioned as a stopover en route to Casablanca Airfield or to Agadir Airport on the North African Cairo-Dakar transport route for cargo, transiting aircraft and personnel. In August 1991, the airport reopened after US$8 million was spent to extend the runway and refurbish buildings.

1. Facilities


1. = Terminal =

Menara Airport has two passenger terminals housed in one large building. A third terminal has been built. The existing T1/T2 offer a space of 42,000 m2 and have a designed capacity of 9 million passengers/year. The separate freight-terminal has 340 m2 covered space The air terminals (1 and 2) are 22,000 m2 (240,000 sq ft) and designed to handle 2,500,000 passengers per year. Menara is one of the six airports in Morocco where ONDA offers its special VIP service Salon Convives de Marque.

1. = Runway and apron =

Aircraft parking space of 125,000 square metres (1,350,000 sq ft) supports up to fourteen Boeing 737s and four Boeing 747s. The cargo terminal is 340 m2 (3,700 sq ft) of covered space. The paved runway is laid out in the direction 10/28 is 3,100 by 45 metres (10,000 ft × 150 ft). It can receive all modern jetliners up to the Boeing 747 in size. The airport is equipped with an ILS Cat II landing system and offers the following radio navigation aids: VOR – DME – NDB.

1. Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Marrakesh Menara Airport:

Notes ^a On selected days, this flight operates from Marrakesh to Zurich via Agadir. However, this carrier does not have rights to transport passengers solely between Marrakesh and Agadir. ^b Flights from Boa Vista and Sal to Marrakech operate as round trips that start and end at Paris Orly Airport. ^c Flights from Dakar to Marrakech operate as round trips that start and end at Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport.

1. Statistics


1. References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

1. External links

Media related to Marrakech-Menara Airport at Wikimedia Commons

Marrakech page at ONDA website Aeronautical chart and airport information for GMMX at SkyVector Current weather for GMMX at NOAA/NWS Accident history for RAK at Aviation Safety Network RAK Marrakech Airport Information guide for RAK Marrakech Airport