Ryanair Faces Dispute Over Dakhla Flights to Western Sahara
Ryanair has found itself caught in a geopolitical dispute over its flights to Dakhla Airport in Western Sahara, a territory long contested between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. The low-cost carrier, along with Transavia France from Paris, began operating services to Dakhla in January 2025 from Madrid and Lanzarote, connecting the disputed region with key Spanish cities. Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson had initially announced that Dakhla would become the thirteenth airport in Ryanair’s expanding Moroccan network, reinforcing the airline’s commitment to boosting tourism and economic growth in the region. The airline’s messaging emphasized that the new route would strengthen Morocco’s connectivity, citing support from the Moroccan head of government and showcasing Ryanair representatives posing with a sign marked “Dakhla” beside a Moroccan flag on social media.
However, the move has sparked controversy and legal challenges from the Polisario Front, which claims that Western Sahara is not part of Morocco but an independent state that has been under Moroccan occupation for decades. The Polisario Front argues that by operating flights to Dakhla, Ryanair and Transavia are effectively supporting the occupation without securing the necessary traffic rights. According to a spokesperson for the Polisario Front, the airlines have not been consulted prior to the commencement of these flights, and any agreement regarding the territory should be approved by all relevant parties. The front has threatened legal action, asserting that the carriers are operating outside international law.
The dispute is further complicated by the fact that the region of Western Sahara remains a contentious area internationally. Morocco controls about 80% of the territory, while the Polisario Front administers the remaining 20%. Since 1991, the United Nations has maintained a peacekeeping presence in Western Sahara, classifying the area as a “non-self-governing territory.” In addition, legal precedents have added fuel to the fire: in 2018, the EU Court of Justice ruled that the EU-Moroccan aviation agreement does not extend to Western Sahara, a stance reaffirmed by the European Commission in December 2024. This has raised questions about the legality of operating flights to the region, as the airlines’ operating licenses are intended for service within Morocco, not for disputed territories.
The Moroccan government has actively incentivized airlines to open up the region, with Moroccan Tourism Minister Fatim-Zahra Ammor noting that the latest flight connections have effectively doubled the international capacity of Dakhla Airport, offering approximately 47,000 seats in 2024. These incentives have attracted carriers seeking to capitalize on the emerging market, even as the geopolitical and legal complexities persist. Ryanair maintains that its operations comply with all applicable aviation regulations, while Transavia claims that its flights have been validated by the relevant authorities.
Despite these assurances, the dispute over Dakhla continues to pose challenges for the carriers, as the question of national sovereignty and international law remains unresolved. As the UN works toward organizing a self-determination referendum for the territory—a process that Morocco has long resisted—the controversy underscores the difficulty of navigating air services in geopolitically sensitive regions. For now, Ryanair and its counterparts face the task of balancing business interests with the legal and political realities surrounding Western Sahara, as the debate over the region’s status shows no sign of abating.
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