Our Review of Marrakesh Airport (RAK)

Table of contents: Our Review of Marrakesh Airport (RAK) Pros and Cons of Marrakesh Airport (RAK) Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide) How we calculate On Time Performance Some Stats

Our Review of Marrakesh Airport (RAK)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides, since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this Guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Other Reviews

Here’s a summary of actual traveller reviews of Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) based on Google Reviews and Skytrax ratings, plus some additional passenger feedback gathered from public passenger-feedback sources.

Sources of information

• Google Reviews: aggregated traveller ratings and comments from people who’ve rated the airport recently (overall ~3.6/5 score) on Google.
• Skytrax rating: independent airport quality rating site that assigns star ratings based on facilities and service.
• Additional traveller feedback: common themes from passenger posts and detailed feedback (e.g., issues with queues, staff, food, etc.).

Summary of Reviews — What People Most Often Mention

Positive Highlights

1. Modern design and cleanliness
Many travellers praise the terminal’s modern architecture, clean spaces, and pleasant ambience.

2. Location & easy access
Being close (about 6 km) to the city centre makes it convenient for visitors.

3. Basic amenities available
Duty-free shops, cafés, seating areas, and free Wi-Fi are appreciated by many users.

4. Friendliness from some staff
Some reviews note friendly and helpful airport employees, especially at information desks.

5. Recognized quality (Skytrax)
Skytrax assigns a 3-Star rating for facilities, comfort, cleanliness, food & beverage, and staff, indicating an above-average regional airport experience.

Common Criticisms

1. Long queues & slow processing
Security, check-in, and passport control are frequently mentioned as slow and poorly managed, especially at busy times.

2. Organisation issues
Travelers often report chaotic procedures — too many checkpoints and confusing line management.

3. Mixed staff service
While some staff are praised, others are described as unhelpful or rude, and inconsistent customer service is a recurring theme.

4. Limited and expensive food options
Several users mention that food is limited and pricey, with a few negative experiences at airport restaurants.

5. Accessibility & assistance problems
A few travellers have noted poor support for passengers needing special assistance.

Overall Impressions from Reviews

Aspect	General Feedback
Facilities	Modern and adequately equipped
Cleanliness	Generally good
Staff politeness	Mixed — varies widely
Efficiency (queues & checks)	Often slow and disorganised
Food & services	Limited and occasionally poor quality
Overall traveler sentiment	Mixed: many positive + many critical voices

Average Public Rating: About 3.6 out of 5 stars based on Google aggregated reviews.

Final Score & Justification

8.0/10 – “Good (with room for improvement)”

Why this score?

Strong points:
• Modern terminal and decent facilities
• Good location and connectivity
• Recognised quality by Skytrax (3-Star rating)

Weak points:
• Slow and disorganised processing
• Inconsistent customer service
• Limited food/amenities and some tourist frustrations

Conclusion: Marrakesh Menara is a respectable regional airport with a solid mix of conveniences and shortcomings. Many travelers enjoy its overall environment and amenities, but others are frustrated by operational inefficiencies, especially during peak hours. It’s a good airport for the region, but expect delays and variable service quality.

Pros and Cons of Marrakesh Airport (RAK)

Pros

Close to the city center
The airport is only about 15–20 minutes from Marrakesh, making transfers quick and easy.
Modern architecture and design
The terminal combines modern facilities with traditional Moroccan style, creating a pleasant first impression.
Good international connections
Many direct flights connect Marrakesh with major European cities and other parts of Morocco.
Easy to navigate
The airport is relatively small, with clear signage and a simple layout.
Basic services available
ATMs, currency exchange, duty-free shops, cafés, and car rentals are all available on site.

Cons

Long queues at passport control
Immigration can be slow, especially during peak tourist seasons.
Limited dining options
Food choices are basic and can be expensive compared to prices in the city.
Taxi pricing issues
Taxi fares are not always transparent, and prices often need to be negotiated.
Crowded at busy times
The airport can feel overcrowded during high season and peak flight hours.
Weak Wi-Fi connection
Free Wi-Fi is available but often slow or unreliable.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK) is the main international gateway to Marrakesh and one of the busiest airports in Morocco. It serves millions of travelers each year and connects the city with Europe, the Middle East, and other Moroccan cities.

Location & Getting There

The airport is located about 6 km (4 miles) southwest of Marrakesh city center. Travel time to the Medina or Gueliz usually takes 15–20 minutes, depending on traffic.

Transport options include:

Taxis: Official airport taxis are available outside the terminal. Always agree on the price before starting the trip.
Bus: Airport bus services connect the airport with central Marrakesh at a lower cost.
Car rentals: Several international and local car rental companies operate inside the terminal.

Terminals & Layout

Marrakesh Airport has three terminals, but they are connected and function as one main building. The airport is modern, clean, and relatively easy to navigate, with clear signs in Arabic, French, and English.

Check-in, Security & Immigration

Arrive at least 2–3 hours early for international flights.
Security checks can be strict, especially during busy seasons.
Passport control may take time, so be patient and keep your documents ready.
Many nationalities can enter Morocco visa-free, but always check before traveling.

Facilities & Services

The airport offers basic but useful services:

Currency exchange and ATMs (rates may be higher than in the city)
Cafés and restaurants serving snacks and drinks
Duty-free shops selling perfumes, cosmetics, souvenirs, and Moroccan products
Free Wi-Fi, though the connection can be slow at peak times
Prayer rooms and basic accessibility services

Tips for Travelers

Keep small cash (Moroccan dirhams) for taxis and tips.
Be prepared for queues during peak tourist seasons (spring and autumn).
If using a taxi, avoid unofficial drivers inside the terminal.
Screens for flight information may change gates late—check often.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation