COVID-19 - Morocco Master Thread

[Tim Cullis]

Unfortunately I don't believe there's sufficient capacity on the planes departing from Agadir and Marrakech to clear the backlog, and that takes no account of those currently in Tanger and Fez.

The planes that have been carrying tourists back are generally scheduled flights that were already pretty much fully booked by those returning as planned after their holiday, leaving very little capacity for those who weren't due to fly back until later. It's worth stressing there have been NO rescue or repatriation flights, just a couple more added here and there by EasyJet and Ryanair.

Americans are in an even worse position as the Embassy is twiddling its thumbs and doing nothing, and in the meantime the EU has closed its borders to non-EU citizens, so the only viable 'escape' route is flying nonstop from Casablanca to JFK. If you are a 'left behind American' check out the Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/937876296631227/ There's also a Whatapp group at https://chat.whatsapp.com/C8Vl1UHewR...bjfUzuTDySTTbY

My take on this is that there WILL be further flights put on if there's sufficient people left behind on the ground. In the meantime I've posted my musing about stuck in Morocco on Tripadvisor, giving some thought to what those left behind might do!!

[Chris Scott]

Trouble is the airport is total chaos with people and the flights are full

That's what I read too and was braced for it, but I can tell you RAK yesterday was crowded but not at all chaotic. Patient people queuing in good humour.
Some anxious faces, occasional cheery outbursts. All cafes open.

I needlessly queued at an Easyjet Service Desk with 100s of others, moving ever slower. But I think this was for those with no tickets.
A sign saying this would have helped.

The main Departures board stopped updating itself after a while, which added to the confusion. One more click and my original departure time/flight might have come up.

With time running out, I left the Service Desk queue, and went to regular check-in which still stated a Mulhouse departure 2 hours earlier. There was talk of my flight cancelled again.
With all desks open the queues moved at normal pace. I expected to be turned away or otherwise disappointed, but the harried bloke logged me on asap.
I did my bike with the Customs (updated Tony's instructions a bit) and got there in time.

As it was, the plane left 2 or 3 hours late, to 'fill every last seat', the pilot said.

I think I was lucky and on Wednesday read an EasyJet email soon after it came in saying: 'Monday cancelled, rebook for tomorrow. Last chance'.
This I easily did in 2 mins.

Never heard from BA about a flight today. Looks like I get a voucher rather than a refund.
Same with Brittany Ferries who are pulling back and may stop soon.
One said you need travel insurance to get a refund, although BF refunded me when Storm Ciara stopped sailings a month back.

The situation for Americans improved today.
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/202...ts-in-morocco/

[Tim Cullis]

8,000 British citizens returned to UK by the end of today, plus about 4,500 Americans today and tomorrow if all goes well.

[Tim Cullis]

Brittany Ferries is suspending services between UK, Spain and France, the last ferry leaving Spain this weekend is fully booked.

One last plane out of Marrakech today, Tui (TOM909) RAK LGW 14:30 18:15

Plus maybe some more RAK-LHR-USA organised by the American Embassy.

[TheWarden]

I thought they had suspended a few days ago. I looked to see what was available and they only has 2 sailings fro. France left on Wednesday night.