Casablanca's Airport Expansion: Shiny New Terminal, Same Old BS?
Alright, so Morocco's throwing a billion bucks at a new terminal for Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport. A billion. With a "B." They're calling it part of their "Airports 2030" strategy. Give me a break.
Look, I get it. Morocco wants to be a "world-class" destination. They want to handle 80 million passengers by 2030. Fine. But let's be real, throwing money at a shiny new terminal doesn't magically fix everything. It's like putting lipstick on a pig. A very expensive pig.
ONDA, the National Airports Office, is patting itself on the back, calling it a "strategic investment." Strategic for who? Royal Air Maroc, which plans to quadruple its fleet? Sounds like they're building a playground for the national carrier. And yeah, they're saying it'll create jobs. Direct and indirect. That's what they always say, ain't it?
They're bragging about the design, too. "Innovation, ergonomics, and operational efficiency." It's an airport terminal, people. Not a spaceship. And don't even get me started on the "modular and systematic approach with prefabrication." Sounds like they're building a giant Lego set.
Oh, and get this – the new terminal will connect to the future high-speed rail line. So travelers can get to Marrakech in 50 minutes and Tangier in 90. Great. Assuming the train is on time. And assuming the connection actually works. I've seen enough "seamless" transportation hubs to know how that usually goes.
But wait, there's more! Morocco's also upgrading airports in Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier, and Fez. All part of a $3.8 billion investment. Why? Because they're co-hosting the 2030 World Cup. Suddenly it all makes sense. So, it is not really for the people, is it?
They're trying to sell us this whole thing as some kind of economic miracle. Aviation contributes $11.2 billion to Morocco's GDP, supports 856,000 jobs. Okay, but how much of that trickles down to the average Moroccan? How much ends up in the pockets of the connected few?
And speaking of Casablanca, let's not forget the other stories coming out of that city. Like the French Priest Accused of Abusing Underage Refugees in Casablanca. A "system of sexual exploitation" targeting migrant minors. Nice. So while they're building a fancy new airport, they've got this kind of stuff happening right under their noses. Priorities, people.
Then there's the Israeli national with criminal record detained at Casablanca Airport after reentry attempt. Twice! Apparently, he even tried to bribe the officers. What a mess. It just goes to show you, a shiny new airport doesn't change the fact that there's still plenty of shady stuff going on.
I mean, are we supposed to believe that this airport is going to magically solve all of Morocco's problems? That it's going to create some kind of utopian paradise? They expect us to believe this nonsense, and honestly...
It's a vanity project disguised as an economic development plan. A way for Morocco to show off on the world stage. And sure, maybe it'll bring some benefits. But let's not pretend it's anything more than that.
