Royal Air Maroc Faces €10,000 Fine Due to Kenyan Passenger's Airport Transfer
In a significant ruling on November 4, 2026, it has been confirmed that Royal Air Maroc incurred a hefty €10,000 fine imposed by French authorities following a situation involving a Kenyan passenger traveling from Casablanca to Addis Ababa. This incident took place on November 24, 2023, when the passenger arrived at Marseille-Provence Airport aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight, only to require a subsequent flight departing from Paris-Orly later that same evening. The crux of the issue lies in the fact that the passenger needed to transfer between two airports in France, which necessitated exiting the international transit zone and entering the French territory—a move she was unable to legally make as she did not possess the required Schengen visa.
The French Ministry of the Interior took action against Royal Air Maroc on July 18, 2024, imposing the fine for allowing the passenger without the necessary visa to travel. In response, the airline contested this penalty by appealing to the administrative court in Paris, asserting that the traveler was merely transiting internationally, with her flight to Ethiopia scheduled for the same day of her arrival in France. However, the court's judgment delivered on October 15, 2026, highlighted a crucial factor: the need for the passenger to change airports indicated that she had to leave the international transit area, which in itself was a violation of immigration regulations. Consequently, the court upheld the €10,000 fine and rejected Royal Air Maroc's appeal.
Contrasting Rulings in Similar Cases
Interestingly, Royal Air Maroc had previously won a similar case involving another Kenyan passenger. On June 11, 2026, this individual also traveled from Casablanca to Addis Ababa and arrived at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport on March 7, 2024, while having a connecting flight to Ethiopia on the same day. In this earlier case, the court ruled that the transfer could occur within the international zone at Roissy, leading to the annulment of the €10,000 fine and ordering the French state to compensate the airline with €1,500 for legal costs. The stark difference in outcomes between the two cases can be attributed to the airport change that occurred in this latest incident, which was a critical factor in the court's decision.
As reported by bladi.net.
