Air Arabia Hub In Morocco

[Lost in Casablanca]

Air ArabiaMaroc: good choice?

Hi falks,
I'll try to make the most correct pitcure of the situation of this new low cost because, as we well know, the right decisions are made upon correct informations.
Airarabia M. is owned by 49% of Airarabia Sharjah UAE and a 51% of moroccan investors more or less, and it's totally controlled by A.S: logo, training, manuals, philosophy etc... BUT there are substantial differences beetween the two contracts; that's why in Sharja everybody is happy and in Casablanca every body is pist off.
To make the things easier and as much as fare as possible I will enoumerate bad a good things:


BAD:

1. Casablanca is a messy, dirty, pollutioned and very expensive growing city. You can find a nice accomodation for about 1000-1500€ a month in down town but in rush hours you 'll spend more than 1 hour and half by car to get to airport. There is another place called Mohamedia wich is nice during summer but totally deserted during winter and it's pretty far away.
2. Transportations are a big problem: by law you are allowed to take your car in the country only for a maximum of 6 months if you don't have a residency and if you do have it only for 3 months, so you can choose: a) rent a car 550€ monthly. b) take your car for 6 months if you dont get residency, but if you don't get residency you cannot open a bank account and if you don't have a bank account

you will be paid only with a local currency ( dirham)check s and you will not have the chance to convert in €.....unless you take advantage of the black market. c) forget to immatriculate your car in Morocco. d) buy a new one. e) take the train. f) take a taxi.
3)The rosters are the biggest issue; They could be easyly made to let the pilots to commute but they don't really won't you to commute.( don't know why....) Till now you can expect 3-4-5 days on, 2 days off, 3-4-5 days on , 1 sby, 1 off, 2 days on, 1 blank (no off, no sby, no duty, just nothing! but they can call you the day before to make you fly) 3 days on, 4 days off ( if you are lucky) and so on. And the rosters especially in Casablanca effect drastically your life and your money.

Think about it and take care.


P.S. Don't forget to ask about Atlas Airport Hotel.......