Air Transport

Morocco is being offered as a potential site for desert aircraft storage by a UK company which is planning to establish a facility at Errachidia.

Errachidia Airport, situated about 1,000m (3,300ft) above sea level and 330km southeast of the capital Rabat, has a runway of more than 3,100m (10,170ft) and a dry Sahara climate.

The airport is run by Moroccan authority Office National des Aeroports but Hampshire-based City North says it is virtually unused, except by a small number of military flights.

© GoogleEarth

"Over my career I have flown many aircraft to and from Arizona and people have frequently talked about having a similar facility closer to Europe," says City North chief Les Hounsome, a former Ryanair pilot. "Here we can offer perfect conditions at very low prices."

Errachidia's apron has space for around 10 aircraft but City North says: "As soon as airlines show interest, the concrete will be extended as far as necessary."

The company is planning a development scheme with Moroccan engineering firm Halieurop, and says around 18ha of land has initially been set aside for storage. But it adds: "Space is practically unlimited."

City North plans to provide security in co-operation with the Moroccan airports authority and intends eventually to construct a hangar for engineering work.