Casablanca Airport: Step Off Your Flight Straight Onto Morocco's High-Speed Rail Network

Getting there, at a glance

Amenities, at a glance

Mohammed V International Airport (IATA: CMN) is Morocco’s busiest airport and the primary hub of Royal Air Maroc. CMN handled 10.5 million passengers in 2024, a 7% increase on the year before, as part of a record year for Morocco’s airports overall. It sits about 30 km southeast of central Casablanca.

Overview

CMN operates two terminals and functions as Morocco’s principal gateway to Africa, Europe, and beyond via Royal Air Maroc’s extensive network. Its standout feature is genuinely practical: a train station is built directly into the terminal complex, putting arriving passengers straight onto Morocco’s ONCF national rail network — including the Al Boraq high-speed line toward Tangier — without a shuttle bus in between.

Terminals

• Terminal 1: Handles a mix of international carriers alongside Royal Air Maroc operations.
• Terminal 2: Additional capacity, connected to Terminal 1 via shuttle.

Airlines

Royal Air Maroc, Morocco’s flag carrier, operates its principal hub at CMN, with an extensive network across Africa — genuinely one of the most useful hubs on the continent for intra-African connections — alongside routes to Europe, North America, and the Middle East. That African network depth makes CMN a valuable connecting point for travel between Europe and francophone Africa in particular.

Getting There

• ONCF train: 40–70 MAD, direct to Casa Voyageurs station in about 35 minutes, with onward connections to Morocco’s national and high-speed rail network — the standout option here.
• Grand taxi (official): 250–400 MAD via the official taxi rank, about 30–40 minutes.
• Hotel shuttle: Some hotels offer their own transfer; check with your accommodation.

Prices above are approximate and subject to change — always check current fares with ONCF or the official taxi rank.

Security and Passport Control Wait Times

• Regional flights: Security plus immigration for most regional routes. Typically 15–25 minutes during off-peak hours, up to 25–40 minutes during busy periods.
• International flights: Security plus passport control. Typically 25–35 minutes during off-peak hours, up to 40–60 minutes during peak international departure banks.
• Cross-terminal transfers between T1 and T2 add time — budget accordingly on connections.

Parking

Both terminals have adjacent short- and long-stay parking, with clear signage.

Wifi

Free wifi is available in the terminal with a time-limited free session.

Best Times to Arrive

• Regional flights: Arrive 2 hours before departure.
• International flights: Arrive 3 hours before departure, especially during Royal Air Maroc’s peak departure banks.
• If connecting between terminals, allow extra time for the inter-terminal shuttle.

Where to Eat

CMN has a good selection of Moroccan cuisine alongside international chains, spread across both terminals.

Airport Hotel

CMN doesn’t have a hotel built into the terminal. The ONOMO Hotel Casablanca Airport is the closest option, about 5 minutes away with a free hourly shuttle — not walkable, but genuinely convenient for a long layover or an early Royal Air Maroc departure.

Lounges

• The Royal Air Maroc Lounge is available for eligible business class passengers, elite status holders, or paid access.
• Several Priority Pass-affiliated lounges are also available.

Duty-Free Shopping

CMN’s duty-free area includes genuinely Moroccan specialties — argan oil and leather goods — alongside the usual international fashion, cosmetics, and electronics brands.

Airport Map

This is a simplified layout for orientation — for precise gate-by-gate navigation, use the official ONDA airport resources.

Useful Links

• Official airport website (ONDA — Office National Des Aéroports) — terminal information, services, live flight status.
• ONCF — train fares and schedules.

Layover Tips

• With 4 hours or more and a visa situation that allows entry, central Casablanca is reachable via the ONCF train in about 35 minutes — genuinely one of the more convenient airport-to-city rail links anywhere.
• If staying airside, T1 has the stronger combination of lounges and dining given the concentration of Royal Air Maroc operations there.
• Given Royal Air Maroc’s strong African network, this is a genuinely useful connecting hub for travel between Europe and West/Central Africa specifically.