Morocco shuts down all incoming air travel

Morocco has announced it is halting all incoming air travel from around the world due to the rapid spread of new Omicron variant.

The news comes two weeks before national carrier Air Maroc was set to inaugurate direct flights between Rabat and Tel Aviv, following a visit to the country last week by Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

Israel and Morocco had reportedly been planning another high level visit, either of senior Moroccan officials to Israel or vice versa in the coming weeks to mark the one-year anniversary of the resumption of ties between the countries, though it’s unclear if fears of a renewed pandemic wave will put those plans on hold.

Earlier in the day, Emirates announced it was delaying the launch of a Tel Aviv-Dubai route due to new Israeli flight restrictions to thwart the mutant virus.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.