Morocco suspends flights from and to UK, Germany, Netherlands

RABAT - Moroccan authorities are suspending flights from and to Germany, Netherlands and the United Kingdom starting from Wednesday at 23:59, a decision that has infuriated holidaymakers on social networks.

Morocco's Health Ministry warned Monday of the threat of a new virus surge, stressing “the need to avoid possible a relapse of serious and critical cases and COVID-19-related deaths, which have occurred in several European countries.”

“Upon decisions of national authorities and following the pandemic situation, flights from/to Germany, Netherlands and the UK are suspended from today, Wednesday 20th Oct at 23:59,” tweeted Royal Air Maroc, Morocco’s flagship airline company.

The abrupt decision drew anger from travellers who will have to reschedule their flights via other European countries, such as France and Spain.

“What are RAM and Air Arabia doing to get customers out of the Morocco in the next 12 hours. Can someone give instructions on what they can do and the extra flights to get people out?” asked Zohra on Twitter.

The UK recorded 43,738 new COVID-19 cases and 223 deaths on Tuesday, slightly down from the 49,156 reported Monday, which was the largest number since mid-July. New infections have averaged more than 44,000 a day over the past week, a 16% increase on the week before.

Last week, the Office for National Statistics estimated that one in 60 people in England had the virus, one of the highest levels seen in Britain during the pandemic, and cases are the highest in Europe.

The number of reported COVID-19 cases in Germany jumped to more than 17,000 in 24 hours.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on Wednesday said 17,015 new COVID-19 infections were registered in Germany within a day. 6,771 infections were recorded the previous day.

The Moroccan government has decided to adopt, starting from Thursday, a new preventive approach based on the vaccine pass; a document approved by health authorities in accordance with the legal provisions on the state of health emergency management.

People will be allowed to travel between Morocco's prefectures and provinces, through private or public means of transport, on the exclusive condition of presenting the vaccine pass.

Health Minister Khalid Ait Taleb told Al Oula TV on Tuesday that the vaccine pass would become invalid unless Moroccans get a third dose within six months after the second one.

Those who have recently taken the first dose, their vaccine pass will be active for the period of time between the two doses, which varies from one vaccine to another.