Morocco's new air company 'Atlas Blue' makes first flight

Morocco's new air company 'Atlas Blue' made Monday its first flight between Marrakesh and Lyon, France, with 130 passengers onboard, Morocco's carrier RAM said in a release.

The new Marrakesh-based company, created last May under an agreement between RAM and the government, is meant to intensify links between the southern city and major tourist markets, mainly in Europe, the same source said.

The Moroccan Government is encouraging the private sector to invest in air transport so as to increase the number of Morocco-Europe flights and support the Kingdom's ambition to draw 10 million tourists by 2010.