Morocco Approves $1bn Casablanca Airport Expansion

A consortium of Moroccan construction firms has reportedly secured a project exceeding $1 billion to expand King Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca.

The partnership between Société Générale des Travaux du Maroc (SGTM) and Travaux Généraux de Construction de Casablanca (TGCC) emerged as the sole remaining bidder after Turkish contractor Kalyon İnşaat was excluded during administrative and technical evaluations, according to Moroccan media.

The bid opening for the airport expansion, one of the largest infrastructure projects ever launched in Morocco, took place on Tuesday following an international tender issued in early November.

Initial interest in the project was strong, with 28 companies submitting expressions of interest in May. Nearly half were Chinese firms, including Sinohydro Corporation and China Civil Engineering Construction. Other bidders came from Spain, Türkiye, Egypt, France, India, Switzerland, and Canada.

The airport expansion forms part of Morocco’s $41 billion infrastructure investment programme ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. In June, the government approved the “Airports 2030” strategy, a $3 billion plan aimed at increasing airport passenger capacity nationwide to 80 million annually.

Speaking in parliament, Transport Minister Abdul Samad Qayouh said the strategy includes major facility expansions and the construction of new airports. Nearly half of the projected passenger growth is expected to come from Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city and commercial hub.

The plan also includes a major expansion of Royal Air Maroc’s fleet, which is set to grow from around 50 aircraft today to more than 200 by 2037.

The National Airports Office initially estimated the project cost at MAD12 billion, or about $1.2 billion, including taxes. The winning consortium submitted a bid of MAD12.88 billion, with construction scheduled over 40 months across nine key phases.

Once completed, the new terminal will handle nearly 20 million passengers annually, with capacity expandable to 30 million. The facility will cover approximately 600,000 square metres and feature an H-shaped layout with a central processor and two jetties. It will also connect directly to the Tangier–Marrakech high-speed rail line.

The project scope includes construction of a new runway and control tower. Aeronautical systems and specialised equipment will be awarded through separate tenders.

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