Mohammed V International Airport
Encyclopedia
Mohammed V International Airport ( / / transliterated
: ) is an airport
operated by ONDA (National Airports Office). Located in Province of Nouaceur
, a suburb 30 km south-east of Casablanca
, it is the busiest airport in Morocco
with almost 7.25 million passengers passing through the airport in 2010. It was named after the late Sultan Mohammed V of Morocco
.
The airport is the hub of Morocco's flag carrier Royal Air Maroc
, Jet4you
, Air Arabia Maroc
and Regional Air Lines
. The airport was named after King Mohammed V of Morocco
and is twinned
with the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
and Yaser Arafat International Airport.
as an auxiliary airfield for Casablanca's Anfa Airport and was named Berrechid Airfield. The airfield handled various military transports as a stopover en-route to Port Lyautey Airfield
or to Marrakech Airport on the North African Cairo
-Dakar
transport route. In addition, flights were flown across the Atlantic to the Azores
on the Mid-Atlantic route which connected to Nova Scotia
or East Coast United States airfields
.
In addition to its transport mission, the airfield supported the North African Campaign
with the Twelfth Air Force 68th Reconnaissance Group operating photo-recon versions of the P-38 Lightning
and P-51 Mustang
from the airfield. Elements of the 68th first arrived at Angads Airport
in Oujda
in November 1942 and moved to Berrechid in March 1943 upon its completion. It flew both antisubmarine missions over the Atlantic and photo-recon combat missions over German-held territory from the airfield until early September when it moved east to Massicault Airfield in Tunisia
. With the end of the war in 1945, the airfield was turned over to the civil government.
During the Cold War
of the early and middle 1950s, the airfield was reopened as Nouasseur Air Base and was used as a United States Air Force
Strategic Air Command
staging area for B-47 Stratojet
bombers pointed at the Soviet Union
. These operations later moved to Ben Guerir Air Base
.
With the destabilisation of French government in Morocco, and Moroccan independence in 1956, the government of Mohammed V wanted the US Air Force to pull out of the SAC bases in Morocco, insisting on such action after American intervention in Lebanon in 1958. The United States agreed to leave as of December 1959, and was fully out of Morocco in 1963. SAC felt the Moroccan bases were much less critical with the long range of the B-52, and with the completion of the Spanish bases in 1959.
Even today, most locals still refer to the airport simply as "Nouasseur", this comes from the name of the suburb where it is located.
The main cargo operators are:
*All theses marked Destinations will start with the arriving Boeing 767-300F in 2012.
As part of the development of the airport, and since Casablanca is one of the main trading and industrial cities in the southern Mediterranean, the cargo operations will expand in the next few years. A 30,000 sq metre cargo facility opened in 2008, with an annual processing capacity of 150,000 tonnes.
Arabic transliteration
Different approaches and methods for the romanization of Arabic exist. They vary in the way that they address the inherent problems of rendering written and spoken Arabic in the Latin alphabet; they also use different symbols for Arabic phonemes that do not exist in English or other European...
: ) is an airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
operated by ONDA (National Airports Office). Located in Province of Nouaceur
Province of Nouaceur
Nouaceur is a province in the Moroccan region of Grand Casablanca. Its population in 2004 is 236,119. Its major town is Bouskoura, although the administrative centre is Nouaceur....
, a suburb 30 km south-east of Casablanca
Casablanca
Casablanca is a city in western Morocco, located on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Grand Casablanca region.Casablanca is Morocco's largest city as well as its chief port. It is also the biggest city in the Maghreb. The 2004 census recorded a population of 2,949,805 in the prefecture...
, it is the busiest airport in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
with almost 7.25 million passengers passing through the airport in 2010. It was named after the late Sultan Mohammed V of Morocco
Mohammed V of Morocco
Mohammed V was Sultan of Morocco from 1927–53, exiled from 1953–55, where he was again recognized as Sultan upon his return, and King from 1957 to 1961. His full name was Sidi Mohammed ben Yusef, or Son of Yusef, upon whose death he succeeded to the throne...
.
The airport is the hub of Morocco's flag carrier Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc is the flag carrier airline of Morocco, headquartered on the grounds of Casablanca-Anfa Airport in Casablanca...
, Jet4you
Jet4you
Jet4you is a low-cost airline based in Casablanca, Morocco. It operates services between Moroccan cities and destinations in France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland and Italy. Its main base is Casablanca Mohammed V International Airport, with focus cities at Agadir, Nador, Paris and...
, Air Arabia Maroc
Air Arabia Maroc
Air Arabia Maroc is a low-Cost airline set up as a joint venture between various Moroccan investors and Air Arabia. Its head office is located in the Arrivals Terminal of Mohammed V International Airport in Nouaceur Province, Morocco.-Fleet:...
and Regional Air Lines
Regional Air Lines
Royal Air Maroc Express is a private airline based in Casablanca, Morocco. It operates scheduled domestic services and scheduled regional flights to Spain and Portugal, as well as charter services for tour operators and corporate clients. Its main base is Mohammed V International Airport.- History...
. The airport was named after King Mohammed V of Morocco
Mohammed V of Morocco
Mohammed V was Sultan of Morocco from 1927–53, exiled from 1953–55, where he was again recognized as Sultan upon his return, and King from 1957 to 1961. His full name was Sidi Mohammed ben Yusef, or Son of Yusef, upon whose death he succeeded to the throne...
and is twinned
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is an international airport serving the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area in the United States. It is commonly called BWI, BWI Airport or BWI Marshall, BWI being an initialism for "Baltimore/Washington International" and the...
and Yaser Arafat International Airport.
Origins
The Casablanca Mohammed V Airport was originally built by the United States in early 1943 during World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as an auxiliary airfield for Casablanca's Anfa Airport and was named Berrechid Airfield. The airfield handled various military transports as a stopover en-route to Port Lyautey Airfield
Naval Air Station Port Lyautey
Naval Air Station Port Lyautey is a former United States Navy Naval Air Station in Morocco, about 5 km north-northwest of Kenitra ; about 120 km northeast of Casablanca. The Naval Air Station was turned over to the Royal Moroccan Air Force and the last of US military personnel departed...
or to Marrakech Airport on the North African Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
-Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
transport route. In addition, flights were flown across the Atlantic to the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
on the Mid-Atlantic route which connected to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
or East Coast United States airfields
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
.
In addition to its transport mission, the airfield supported the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
with the Twelfth Air Force 68th Reconnaissance Group operating photo-recon versions of the P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
and P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
from the airfield. Elements of the 68th first arrived at Angads Airport
Angads Airport
Angads Airport is an airport serving Oujda, a city in the Oriental region in Morocco. Also known as Oujda Angads Airport, it is located about north of Oujda and about northeast of Casablanca, near the Algerian border.-History:...
in Oujda
Oujda
Oujda is a city in eastern Morocco with an estimated population of 1 million. The city is located about 15 kilometers west of Algeria and about 60 kilometers south of the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the Oriental Region of Morocco and the birthplace of the current Algerian president,...
in November 1942 and moved to Berrechid in March 1943 upon its completion. It flew both antisubmarine missions over the Atlantic and photo-recon combat missions over German-held territory from the airfield until early September when it moved east to Massicault Airfield in Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. With the end of the war in 1945, the airfield was turned over to the civil government.
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
of the early and middle 1950s, the airfield was reopened as Nouasseur Air Base and was used as a United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command
The Strategic Air Command was both a Major Command of the United States Air Force and a "specified command" of the United States Department of Defense. SAC was the operational establishment in charge of America's land-based strategic bomber aircraft and land-based intercontinental ballistic...
staging area for B-47 Stratojet
B-47 Stratojet
The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...
bombers pointed at the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. These operations later moved to Ben Guerir Air Base
Ben Guerir Air Base
Ben Guerir Air Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Morocco, later operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force, which served as a Transatlantic Abort Landing site for the Space Shuttle...
.
With the destabilisation of French government in Morocco, and Moroccan independence in 1956, the government of Mohammed V wanted the US Air Force to pull out of the SAC bases in Morocco, insisting on such action after American intervention in Lebanon in 1958. The United States agreed to leave as of December 1959, and was fully out of Morocco in 1963. SAC felt the Moroccan bases were much less critical with the long range of the B-52, and with the completion of the Spanish bases in 1959.
Even today, most locals still refer to the airport simply as "Nouasseur", this comes from the name of the suburb where it is located.
Terminals, airlines and destinations
Mohammed V Airport has three terminals:- Terminal 1
- Terminal 2
Cargo airlines
*All theses marked Destinations will start with the arriving Boeing 767-300F in 2012.
As part of the development of the airport, and since Casablanca is one of the main trading and industrial cities in the southern Mediterranean, the cargo operations will expand in the next few years. A 30,000 sq metre cargo facility opened in 2008, with an annual processing capacity of 150,000 tonnes.
Traffic
| Traffic | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | Average growth 2004-2009 |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aircraft movements | n/a | - | 69,119 | +1.11% | 68,362 | -2.5% | 70,080 | +7.6% | 65,111 | +9.2% | 59,621 | +13.9% | 52,336 | +5.86% |
| Passengers | 7,245,508 | +13,28 | 6,395,862 | +2.95% | 6,209,711 | +6.0% | 5,858,192 | +15.5% | 5,071,411 | +12.1% | 4,456,639 | +17.1% | 3,803,479 | +10.73% |
| Freight (tons) | n/a | - | 53,469 | -6.06% | 56,919 | -6.5% | 60,682 | +9.3% | 55,673 | +10.7% | 50,285 | +6.5% | 47,152 | +2.79% |
Hotels
Casablanca Mohammed V Airport has two airport hotels, the Atlas Hotel which is a 3 star hotel owned by Atlas Hospitality (a subsidiary of the Royal Air Maroc Group) and a hotel inside the transit area of terminal 2 which offers rooms for shorter periods exclusively for transiting passengers.Incidents and accidents
- On 24 August 1994 a Royal Air MarocRoyal Air MarocRoyal Air Maroc is the flag carrier airline of Morocco, headquartered on the grounds of Casablanca-Anfa Airport in Casablanca...
ATR-42 crashed near Tizounine while en-route from AgadirAgadirAgadir is a major city in southwest Morocco, capital of the Agadir province and the Sous-Massa-Draa economic region .-Etymology:...
to Casablanca Mohammed V airport. The plane crashed with a steep dive in the Atlas mountainsAtlas MountainsThe Atlas Mountains is a mountain range across a northern stretch of Africa extending about through Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. The highest peak is Toubkal, with an elevation of in southwestern Morocco. The Atlas ranges separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert...
. All 40 passengers and 4 crew died in this accident. It is said that the captain disconnected the autopilotAutopilotAn autopilot is a mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic system used to guide a vehicle without assistance from a human being. An autopilot can refer specifically to aircraft, self-steering gear for boats, or auto guidance of space craft and missiles...
and let the plane crash deliberately. The Moroccan Pilots Union challenged these findings.
- On 1 April 1970, a Royal Air MarocRoyal Air MarocRoyal Air Maroc is the flag carrier airline of Morocco, headquartered on the grounds of Casablanca-Anfa Airport in Casablanca...
Sud Aviation SE-210 CaravelleSud Aviation CaravelleThe Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 . The Caravelle was one of the more successful European first generation jetliners, selling throughout Europe and even penetrating the United States market, with...
crashed on approach to Casablanca Mohammed V airport when it lost control at a height of about 500 feet. The fuselage broke in two. Sixty one of the 82 passengers and crew were killed.