Our flight from Casablanca to Doha was departing at 1:10PM, so we left the Hyatt Regency at around 10AM. We arrived at Terminal 2 at Casablanca Airport shortly before 11AM, and first had to go through a security checkpoint to even enter the airport, where our passports were verified.
There were a lot of officers with machine guns standing around everywhere in the airport, so I apologize for the lack of pictures, as I didn’t feel comfortable taking pictures in many areas.
Once through the initial security checkpoint we found ourselves in the arrivals area, where we were the previous morning. This explains why everyone was waiting for arriving passengers outside the airport, since only ticketed passengers can enter the terminal.
Casablanca Airport Terminal 2
We took the elevator up a level to the check-in hall.
Casablanca Airport Terminal 2 check-in
Once there, the Royal Air Maroc business class counter was located at the far left of the check-in area. Check-in was quick, and the agent printed our boarding passes all the way to Colombo.
Casablanca Airport Terminal 2 business class check-in
Casablanca Airport has a very functional priority lane for security and immigration. While the main line looked pretty long, we had access to a special channel that was completely separate. We were through in less than five minutes. I was amazed by how many times my passport was checked at the airport, as it was checked once again as we entered the line, and then again at the actual checkpoint.
From there we took an escalator up to the main part of the airside terminal.
Casablanca Airport Terminal 2 airside
There we followed the signage towards the lounges, which were to the left.
Casablanca Airport Terminal 2 airside
The terminal itself was nicer than I was expecting, as it had plenty of natural light and decent concessions.
Casablanca Airport Terminal 2
About halfway down the terminal and to the left was the signage leading towards the airport lounges.
Casablanca Airport Royal Air Maroc VIP Lounge signage
You could take either stairs or an elevator down a level.
Casablanca Airport Royal Air Maroc Lounge stairs
Once at the bottom of the stairs, the airport’s contract lounge was located to the left, while the Royal Air Maroc lounge was straight ahead.
Casablanca Airport Royal Air Maroc VIP Lounge exterior
Casablanca Airport Royal Air Maroc VIP Lounge exterior
The agent scanned our boarding passes, informed us that our flight was departing from gate A3, and that boarding announcements aren’t made in the lounge. If we didn’t otherwise have access from our boarding passes, we could have used any of the Priority Pass lounges in Casablanca, thanks to our credit cards with lounge access.
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca reception
The lounge was a decent size, though was fairly crowded. The lounge consisted of one large (mostly) square room, though the seating configurations were different in each zone.
Inside the entrance and straight ahead were several sets of tables.
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca seating
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca seating
Then one “row” over were more traditional lounge chairs, which were quite comfortable.
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca seating
Another row over were even more lounge chairs.
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca seating
We sat in the far back corner of the lounge, overlooking the bar.
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca seating
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca bar
Close to the buffet was another lounging area.
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca seating
In the very back of the lounge was a partitioned off area with even more seating.
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca seating
Back near the entrance was a quiet area and business center. The quiet area had comfortable daybeds.
RAM Lounge Casablanca quiet area
Meanwhile the business center had high-top tables with PCs.
RAM Lounge Casablanca business center
The buffet was near where we were seated.
RAM Lounge Casablanca buffet
In one word, the food spread can be described as “carbs.” There were virtually unlimited types of breads, pastries, etc.
RAM Lounge Casablanca buffet
There were also some rather stale looking sandwiches.
RAM Lounge Casablanca buffet
Even though we were there at around 11AM, they still had breakfast out, including scrambled eggs and some veggies.
RAM Lounge Casablanca buffet
RAM Lounge Casablanca buffet
RAM Lounge Casablanca buffet
I tried a few types of snacks that they had, though they tasted rather stale.
RAM Lounge Casablanca breakfast
The Wi-Fi in the lounge was high speed. However, the air conditioning was almost non-existent, as it was hot as heck in the lounge.
Our 1:10PM flight was scheduled to board at 12:20PM, so at 12:15PM we headed to our departure gate. On our way there we had a look at some of the other planes in Royal Air Maroc’s fleet, like the 767, which used to be the backbone of their longhaul fleet.
Royal Air Maroc 767 Casablanca Airport
Our flight was scheduled to depart from gate A3, so we were there by around 12:20PM. However, oddly the departure monitor said “Beirut,” and when I looked outside, I saw a 737 parked at the gate. Hmmm…
Departure gate Casablanca Airport
I asked the gate agent about our flight, and he said “this gate but not yet for Doha.”
There was a crowd around the gate so I assumed the flight to Beirut was just delayed, and we headed to the Illy espresso stand in the airport for some cappuccinos.
Departure gate Casablanca Airport
We returned at 12:40PM, and finally saw that the departure monitor changed from Beirut to Doha. I went up to the gate agent again and said “is Doha delayed, or when does it board?”
“Oh, Doha is already mostly boarded.”
Man, I felt like a newb. We took the stairs down, and as it turned out our flight was using a remote stand. I found this all very strange, given that by the time we got on the plane, it was in fact already mostly boarded.
Our bus ride to the plane took about five minutes, and I quite enjoyed the views as we drove there.
Royal Air Maroc 787 Casablanca Airport
Royal Air Maroc 787 Casablanca Airport
There were a ton of people on the tarmac waiting to board the plane, though fortunately they had two jet bridges, and everyone was lined up for the economy jet bridge.
Boarding Royal Air Maroc 787 Casablanca Airport
We could board right away through the business class jet bridge.
Boarding Royal Air Maroc 787 Casablanca Airport
Boarding Royal Air Maroc 787 Casablanca Airport
I was excited for yet another Royal Air Maroc flight, to see how it would compare to the outbound. After all, this is an airline that impressed me on the outbound, despite its generally bad reputation.
Boarding Royal Air Maroc 787 Casablanca Airport
Royal Air Maroc Lounge Casablanca bottom line
What stuck with me more about Casablanca Airport than anything else is the number of armed guards and number of passport checks we went through. The airport was easy enough to navigate, and unlike airports like Cairo, I was actually impressed by their passenger screening.
The Royal Air Maroc Lounge itself was perfectly serviceable. I wouldn’t spend more time there than I had to, but with reasonably fast Wi-Fi and comfortable seating, it wasn’t a bad place to pass time.
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