Terminal 2

Most long-haul departures at CMN now leave from Terminal 2

T2 handles big international traffic for airlines like Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Air Algérie and many Royal Air Maroc and partner flights. It’s the newer two-level terminal at Mohammed V, brighter than T1 but still described in reviews as chaotic with layered checks. Build the buffer: for an evening long-haul out of T2, aim to be at the airport at least 3 hours ahead.

Departures level in T2 runs as a long central spine with gate zones splitting off, including the E-gates where E1, E2, E3 and E8 sit one level down from the main concourse. That downstairs walk catches people off guard, so don’t wait until the final boarding call to move. If you’re just transiting and your bag is checked through on Royal Air Maroc, follow the painted markings and “Transit” signs instead of exiting to arrivals; regulars use that route to stay airside and skip Moroccan immigration.

Arrivals into T2 feed into immigration and baggage claim used by most long-haul flights, and online reports mention queues backing up when several widebodies land within the same 30–60 minute window. After customs, you can reach the airport train station in the terminal complex to head toward Casa Voyageurs; YouTube guides clock the train at roughly one departure per hour, so people landing in T2 either walk straight to the ticket counter or settle in for a wait if they miss one.

Airside food skews brand-name: a PAUL near gates B1–B13 for sandwiches and pastries, a Starbucks for coffee, plus Café de Paris, Snack Bar Atlas, Café Marocain, Pizzeria Napoli, Sandwich & Co, Le Patio, Bar Le Comptoir, Café Glacier and a generic Food Court. Prices run airport-high: think €5–7 for a coffee-and-pastry combo at PAUL or Starbucks. If you care more about a quick bite than ambience, grab a slice at Pizzeria Napoli or a simple sandwich from Sandwich & Co and move on.

T2’s lounge line-up covers most premium passengers: the Casablanca Aspire Lounge, Pearl Lounge, and the Royal Air Maroc Lounge all sit airside in the international departures area. Priority Pass and similar programs often route you to Aspire or Pearl; on busy late-night banks, both can fill around the 22:00–01:00 peak. Don’t waste a RAM lounge visit on a 35-minute connection; lounge access matters most on those 3–6 hour overnights where seats, plugs and food actually change the layover.

Shopping in T2 centers on ATU Duty Free for alcohol, tobacco and perfume, plus Relay and Hudson for snacks and magazines. Parfumerie du Maroc, Tech Shop, Souvenirs du Maroc, Bijouterie and a small Mini Market round it out. Regulars pick up local sweets and dates at Souvenirs du Maroc after security and skip most non-essential browsing, since boarding calls for remote stands can pull you out suddenly and buses do not wait long.

For sleep, reviews point to a small transit hotel airside in Terminal 2, used by people with overnight connections instead of camping in the halls. It’s basic but beats the hard benches that dot the concourse, especially as CMN has no formal rest zones or recliners. When the rooms sell out, seasoned flyers walk to the far ends of the gate areas away from the food court and central shops, where late at night only a few long-haul passengers stretch out across rows of seats.

Comfort gaps show up quickly: SleepingInAirports reviewers complain about limited and sometimes dead power outlets throughout T2, so charging from below 30% battery is a gamble. There are several bank branches and money-change desks airside that stay open 24 hours, making it easier to get dirhams or euros without exiting, but Wi‑Fi stability varies by spot. Many people tether off a local SIM picked up landside before passing security, then ration their power until boarding.

Security and police checks in T2 can feel repetitive, with document controls before check‑in, before security, and again near the gates; some long-haul passengers report spending over 60 minutes just moving through formalities. Build the buffer. On departure, clear security and passport control first, then grab food and shop on the airside side of the checks. Final quick tip: if your boarding pass shows an E-gate like E1 or E8, start walking downstairs at the first “boarding” message, not the final call, or you risk joining a stressed crowd at the bottom of the escalators.