Getting to the Airport
Casablanca rises late. It’s 08:00 in the morning when I exit the hotel and it’s still dark and quiet outside except for the sound of the seagulls overhead.
To get to the airport by public transport there is the airport train, which costs MOD70 and takes about 45 minutes to make the journey. However, there is only an hourly service which leaves from Casa Port at 50 minutes past the hour, which is a bit inconvenient.
I arrive at the airport just after nine in the morning. I make a brief stop outside to take a photo of the name of the airport written in Berber.
Check-In
Air France checks in at Terminal 2, and there are four dedicated counters open. One is for SkyPriority, and the other three are for Economy Class passengers.
Getting airside takes no less than six checks. First, there is the check to enter the terminal. Then the check to enter the fast track, another check to declare how much currency I am taking out of the country, security, followed by immigration and then one final check to make sure my passport has been stamped properly (??).
Casablanca gets some interesting traffic that we don’t see much of in Europe, for example this Air Senegal Airbus A 319.
The Royal Air Maroc Zenith Lounge
Air France uses the RAM Zenith lounge in the new Terminal 1, which is quite a schlepp from the departure gate A8 in the old Terminal 2. The lounge is on two floors and access is possible on both levels.
The upper level is smaller and has a bar but no buffet. The lower level has a buffet but no bar. On both floors you can either get your own food or you can order with one of the waiters in the lounge.
The lounge is not overly busy, but busy enough to make it difficult to take pictures of the food.
Boarding
Boarding is supposed to start at 10:40. However, when I reach the gate at 10:30, they’ve already started boarding zones 1 and 2. Which is probably a good thinkg, because Moroccans don’t pack lightly…
The Cabin
There are only two rows of Business Class on today’s flight. The cabin of this aircraft is slightly different to the one on the way down, in that it has notably larger overhead bins.
The tray tables on the A and B seats are mounted on the bulkhead, similar to what Lufthansa does on its Airbus narrowbodies.
The Service & Crew
The crew professional and friendly in that typical Air France style. Sitting on row 1, I am able to pick up some of the conversations they have with boarding passengers. Every second passenger to board asks to make sure that the plane will really be going to Paris CDG.
Service on the ground is the usual bottle of cold, still water and a towel.
The Meal
It takes about thirty minutes for the crew to start the service. Trays a delivered directly from the galley instead of being served from a trolley.
The meal is kind of strange though, and doesn’t look like a typical Air France meal. I’m wondering if perhaps it was catered ex Casablanca. It consists of a plate of salad, …
… a salmon canapé, …
… two slices of cheese with almonds and apricot (under the bread roll), …
… and a small tartelette.
The meal is not very good. The salad is limp, tha salmon is very fishy, and the dessert is tasteless.
About 40 minutes after take-off, we make landfall over Spain. Our route continues to Paris via Madrid and the Bay of Biscay.
Arrival
As soon as we leave the Iberian peninsula behind, the sky quickly clouds up. By the time we reach Paris, it’s completely overcast.
We land on the southernmost runway and then make our way to Terminal 2E. I now have three hours to make my connection to Basel.
