<p>Morocco on Friday extended a halt on international passenger flights until the end of January as it tries to rein in surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant.</p>.<p>The National Office of Airports (ONDA) announced that "the suspension of all passenger flights to and from Morocco will be extended until January 31, 2022".</p>.<p>Rabat imposed the measure to run initially from late November until December 31, although a mechanism had been in place for Moroccan citizens stranded abroad to come home.</p>.<p>But on Thursday Rabat stopped that mechanism, meaning the de facto closure of the country's borders.</p>.<p>Now the only passenger movements allowed are one-off repatriation flights for foreign citizens in the kingdom, authorised on a case-by-case basis by Rabat.</p>.<p>The government has also banned all New Year's Eve celebrations and reimposed a nighttime curfew.</p>.<p>Festivals and cultural gatherings have been banned since the start of the month.</p>.<p>The restrictions have dealt a punishing blow to the North African country's vital tourism sector, already on its knees after two lost seasons because of the pandemic.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>Morocco on Friday extended a halt on international passenger flights until the end of January as it tries to rein in surging cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant.</p>.<p>The National Office of Airports (ONDA) announced that "the suspension of all passenger flights to and from Morocco will be extended until January 31, 2022".</p>.<p>Rabat imposed the measure to run initially from late November until December 31, although a mechanism had been in place for Moroccan citizens stranded abroad to come home.</p>.<p>But on Thursday Rabat stopped that mechanism, meaning the de facto closure of the country's borders.</p>.<p>Now the only passenger movements allowed are one-off repatriation flights for foreign citizens in the kingdom, authorised on a case-by-case basis by Rabat.</p>.<p>The government has also banned all New Year's Eve celebrations and reimposed a nighttime curfew.</p>.<p>Festivals and cultural gatherings have been banned since the start of the month.</p>.<p>The restrictions have dealt a punishing blow to the North African country's vital tourism sector, already on its knees after two lost seasons because of the pandemic.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>