Morocco: at the airport of Fez-Saïss, destinies cross, careers take off | African Development Bank

Two destinies crossed each other. Two women’s paths.

One, Zineb Amzil, is a fashion designer. The other, Fatima Zahra El Katib, works in air traffic control. The two women don’t know each other, but they share a place in common: the airport of Fez-Saïss. For Amzil it is a frequent transfer point as she expands her business. For El Katib it is her daily workplace. Like the two women, the airport is open to the world.

Driven by her passion for fashion, Amzil creates kaftans – ceremonial dresses that symbolize excellence in Morocco – that delight her customers, especially in Europe. Amzil, the founder and director of a company called Duchesse Couture flies regularly to Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels; she knows the gaits of Fez-Saïss well and praised their “smooth and pleasant” lines.

From the first glance, the airport seduces travelers entering the new terminal, which opened in 2017. The large windows are reminiscent of elegant mashrabiyas, a mix of the ancient architecture of the Cherifian Kingdom and a more contemporary aesthetic. Here, the finely chiseled shapes reveal the craftsmanship while the clean lines exude modernity.

In the control tower, which is located in a more classic wing of the airport, El Katib keeps watch over the airspace. She is one of twelve air traffic controllers, divided into four teams, who work day and night shifts at Fez-Saïss. She discovered the job “by accident,” she said with a smile. “A friend from university always invited me to apply, but at the time it didn’t mean anything to me. A few years later I passed the air traffic controller exam… And now I’m happy to be here!”

With its new terminal, Fez-Saïss can handle an additional 2.5 million passengers, which is needed to accommodate the growing tourist traffic to Morocco’s cultural city. Between 2016 and 2019, traffic there increased by almost 60%, from 890,000 to 1.4 million travelers. Flights to destinations such as Lyon, Frankfurt and London began in 2017, confirming the city’s growing international importance.

“Due to the expansion of the airport, traffic has increased, and with it the number of destinations. Fez is a city that attracts many tourists,” says El Katib enthusiastically.

Along with Casablanca, Rabat and Agadir, Fez-Saïss is part of Morocco’s effort to become a regional hub connecting Africa to the rest of the world. The African Development Bank has mobilized €240 million to support projects launched by the National Airports Office (ONDA) to modernize Moroccan airport grounds.

“Fez airport allows me to easily travel to different destinations, which allows me to meet new clients, go to fashion shows, export my clothes,” explains Amzil, who had just returned from Paris, where she presented one of her wedding dresses . at a client’s home. “It is always a very important moment when I show the traditional caftan to a client and her family and I see how they marvel at the masterpiece,” she confided.

To enhance her collections, Amzil works closely with local artisans, who she says are an important sector for Fez’s economy. Made with the traditional Zwak al mâallem technique (handcrafted with twisted and braided threads), her colorful caftans are made of silk chiffon and duchess satin, with gold and silver or silk threads for embellishment.

Amzil draws inspiration from this cultural heritage. But, she added, “it’s important to be open to the outside world, to find new ideas.” .. Shortly afterwards she boarded the last flight of the day to Paris, where she was to attend a fashion show.

From the control tower, El Katib gave the go-ahead for Amzil’s flight to take off.