United becomes only US airline with service to Morocco: On board the inaugural flight

United launches Marrakech service

Inside EWR’s Terminal C Thursday night, the sounds, sights and smells of an airline inaugural flight filled the gate area, starting nearly three hours before this much-anticipated flight took off.

“We’re making history,” proclaimed Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of network planning and alliances, while speaking to an enthusiastic crowd ahead of the flight.

Marrakech is located in central Morocco, about 150 miles south of Casablanca, where most U.S. travelers have typically flown if they’re headed to the North African country — the northern tip of which sits mere miles from the southernmost point in Spain.

Inaugural festivities

Passengers lucky enough to land a spot on UA Flight 628 Thursday evening didn’t have to wait for arrival to get a taste of their destination’s local cuisine.

Gateside, the airline’s catering team served up Moroccan classics, from stuffed grape leaves to spiced lamb meatball sliders, chicken skewers and tea.

There were also plenty of spots to grab a photo or some United gear as keepsakes.

Fifty minutes before departure, after a ribbon-cutting to symbolize the start of the new route, it was time to board.

United is flying its “High J” Boeing 767-300ER on the route.

The jet typically flies to Europe every summer but will cater to premium leisure travelers during the winter months.

It features a whopping 46 Polaris pods, 22 Premium Plus recliners, 43 Economy Plus seats and 53 standard economy seats.

On board

On board, there seemed to be genuine excitement among the cabin crew and the many United team members who made the inaugural trek.

“This is my first inaugural. I’m so excited. I feel very honored,” I heard one flight attendant tell a passenger.

At each seat, there were mementos to mark the occasion.

In my Polaris pod, beyond the Saks Fifth Avenue bedding and Therabody amenity kit, I found a commemorative boarding pass, a postcard, a luggage tag and a stuffed bear with a pin donning the American and Moroccan flags.

Quayle himself handed out pajamas specially made for the inaugural flight.

Also custom-made for the route: the dinner menu.

It wasn’t just the design of the menu that stood out. Appetizer options included cold smoked duck or a trio of dips (I opted for the latter, featuring baba ghanoush, mahamari and chickpea hummus).

Following a Moroccan salad, the crew served up savory braised chicken tagine that I selected in a close call over the Moroccan spice-rubbed lamb rack and the Chilean seabass.

A boisterous welcome in Morocco

Aside from some mild turbulence early in the flight, the overnight trek east across the Atlantic was uneventful. After seven hours and one minute of flying time, we touched down at RAK at 10:07 a.m. local time.

Deplaning down airstairs moments later, passengers got a literal red carpet welcome in Marrakech, flanked by music, dancing and greetings from local dignitaries.

Part of a larger international strategy

United will serve this seasonal route during the winter months before shifting its High J aircraft back to Europe to meet the strong summer season demand there.

But its footprint in Africa seems to be headed in a clear upward trajectory.

“Back in 2019, we didn’t have a single flight to Africa,” Quayle pointed out Thursday. “We’re now the fastest-growing airline from North America to Africa with six destinations. It’s pretty incredible.”