Ryanair has followed Easyjets lead and announced that it intends to set up new flight routes to Morocco.

Ryanair has committed to opening up twenty new Moroccan routes, with the aim of delivering one million passengers a year by 2011.

Deputy chief executive Michael Crawley reportedly said: "This represents a singularly important initiative in the development of tourism and business for the country. The government has recognised that low cost air access is a growth vehicle for tourism throughout Europe and by joining the open skies regime and embracing Europes leading low fares airline, the government in Morocco has made a clear statement about its intentions to develop its tourism industry in the next five years."

Crawley added: "Ryanairs commitment to establish up to 20 routes and carry close to one million passengers per annum on flights to Morocco is a vote of confidence by the airline in the excellence and attractiveness of Morocco as a destination both for weekend breaks, mid-week trips and longer holidays."