This October, United Airlines will launch a new service from Newark to Marrakech, marking United’s first venture into Morocco.
United Airlines New Marrakech Service Starts In October 2024
On October 24, 2024 United Airlines will launch 3x weekly service between Newark (EWR) and Marrakech (RAK), becoming the only carrier to offer nonstop flights between the New York City area and Morocco’s fourth largest city (behind Casablanca, Fez, and Tangier).
The flight will be operated on United’s “High J” premium Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, equipped with:
- 46 business class seats (Polaris)
- 22 premium economy seats (Premium Plus)
- 45 extra-legroom economy seats (Economy Plus)
- 56 economy class seats
The aircraft selection strongly suggests that United sees this as a lucrative leisure route with high premium demand. With this sort of favorable premium ratio, we might also see an upgrade-friendly route for frequent flyers.
Why This Route Now?
At Award Expert, we book many clients to Morocco each year and getting from the US to Marrakech is generally not easy. Without any nonstop service, connections in London, Paris, Frankfurt, or Casablanca add hours to the overall journey.
If my pulse for current leisure demand to Morocco is accurate, this will be a very popular flight and it is a unique flight in that it will have no foreign or domestic competition…yet. Even from points further west in the US there is something to be said for a nonstop overnight flight arriving directly in Marrakesh versus a connection with an onward leg.
United’s Fifth Destination In Africa
With the addition of service to Marrakesh, United will serve five destinations in Africa. Other destinations include:
- Accra, Ghana (ACC) – from Washington (IAD)
- Lagos, Nigeria (LOS) – from Washington (IAD)
- Cape Town, South Africa (CPT) – from Washington (IAD) + Newark (EWR)
- Johannesburg, South Africa (JNB) – from Newark (EWR)
This marks United’s first foray into Northern Africa.
Patrick Quayle Is An Innovator
I appreciate that United’s international route network has expanded greatly under the tenure of Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances. Routes like Tahiti, Amman, Christchurch, Cape Town, and Manila open up unique lines on the route map that not only offer additional destinations but build loyalty.
Others, like Delta Air Lines, have often followed United’s lead (e.g. Cape Town and Tahiti), but United has objectively led here…and while not every route has worked (Bergen, for example, where my Norwegian side of the family comes from), many of United’s new routes over the preceding years have become mainstays.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines will launch new service to Marrakech, Morocco this October. The new service will utilize a premium-heavy 767-300 and operate 3x weekly.
United also announced new service to Cebu Philippines and a number of exciting other routes…more details here.
Finally, you might enjoy reading my 2010 trip report to Marrakech, one of my first on Live And Let’s Fly.
Your sense might be better than mine, and there are some good resorts around Marrakech, but business, government, and US-Moroccan ethnic travelers will be few or none as with Casablanca, and it’s difficult to see why those using this route will have much appetite for J fares, and no less difficult to see leisure travelers to Marrakech regularly filling a 767 in any class.
So many more interesting destinations for a 767-400 out of Newark to South America that come to mind before this one. Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, or even to up gauge something like MEX.
I do agree there seems to be a tremendous untapped opportunity to grow in Brazil.
As for MEX, I’ve never seen fares higher. Would love to see LAX-MEX return on UA metal.
I’d love to see more Brazil… but their impending reimposition of visas for US visitors will dampen demand. Not stopping me from going in October, but for many, it will.
This is a desperate addition by United Airlines who, unlike Delta, is grasping for straws with routes that it cannot possibly hope to fill with premium fares. It will be a bloodbath like when United went up against Delta on LAX-JFK with the same aircraft. This route will fail. You heard it here first. And if it doesn’t, Delta will add service and edge out United.
You have ZERO basis on which to make your claims. But it is fun to watch you cover your bases in case it turns out to be a hit.
I agree with Jason. Just a blanket statement of zero basis or supporting facts. If you don’t like United, just say it to yourself and move on Red Triangle Warrior.
How can a winter seasonal route without competition fail? They’re not building a whole base at JFK, they’re using one frame on a route they may or may not renew next year.
The fact that United had three resources to do this means their fleet is the most robust. Only in my wildest dreams would AA launch something like this. That’s a decade away, if ever. This is a cool route. I wish I had some PlusPoints because I’d be on it.
UA may be using a “premium” 764, but the minute DL copies this service, we can no longer consider it premium.
EWR-RAK will be flown on a premium-heavy 767-300ER, not a 767-400ER.
A desperate addition in order to deploy a 30+ year old plane with tons of premium seats that isn’t needed in the slower winter months. Marrakech is a popular destination, for Europeans, not Americans. Sure, Americans go to Morocco but not in large numbers and winters can be damp and wet there. The peak and best season for RAK is in the late winter through springtime. Tons of expensive Polaris seats chasing limited demand. This route will see a lot of redemptions and cheap fares. Not gonna work.
Doubt it. Have you tried searching United’s South Africa routes for saver award availability?
Try booking Australia or New Zealand. Wide open for awards.
I have no particular love for United, but it is good to have a US based carrier with strong international presence. For a while, it felt like almost all of our international service was going to get eaten up by foreign carriers due to how superior they were.
United almost has it, they need to fix their in-flight catering though. Food is consistently terrible, all else they’re doing well. Consistent fleet for Polaris seats, Polaris lounges are the best in the US, high quality amenities, and a strong network.
Graham Nash getting a complimentary ticket on the inaugural flight?
Marrakesh is an interesting choice. I go to Morocco once or twice a year and often and enjoy stopping off there for a few days on my way to Dakhla. Great hotels and food and a fun vibe always. I usually flew on RAM to Casa and then drove the nearly three hours rather than connect to a puddle jumper. Or have a laborious connection in Europe. It’s always been an odd place to book to directly with many of the flights being served by ULCC’s
This is a pure luxury leisure route given the plethora of top resorts dotting the area. However, with that said, Marrakech is also attracting a number of large conferences there given all the rooms and a good infrastructure. Recently they hosted the IMF world conference that literally bought out the entire city for a week. I’m sure there is hope for more of this. I’m also wondering if UA received some sort of subsidy by the city for this route. It is the first legitimate long haul flight there (no, IST on TK doesn’t count) that could be a game changer for the region.
Morocco is great. Marrakech is ok. Some good culture, but too many chichi resorts and overly aggressive cabbies. If you go there, make sure to take the train to Rabat, Casablanca, Fez to see the real Morocco!
Every time I go through immigration in Morocco it seems like every person in line is an older American couple or group. We can argue about what’s the best place to visit in Morocco, but I would imagine nearly every single American tourist to Morocco plans to spend at least some time in Marrakesh and no time at all in Casa. This is a smart gamble
“This route will fail. You heard it here first. And if it doesn’t,”
So which is it genius?
Honestly, I love the fact that UA is trying to tap markets, utilizing their fleet with these slim routes. As OW Emerald & SkyTeam Elite +, I wish I had one stop service to RAK. Good on UA for daring to be a global airline.