Ryanair, Europe's leading low fares airline, has signed a five-year agreement with Morocco to develop low-cost air routes from the airline's bases throughout Europe.

Thursday's announcement marks the culmination of six months of discussions between the airline and the Moroccan government.

The agreement covers most of the regional airports in Morocco and involves a commitment by Ryanair to develop up to 20 routes, delivering almost one million passengers per annum by the end of the five-year period.

"Ryanair's commitment is a vote of confidence by the airline in the excellence and attractiveness of Morocco as a destination both for weekend breaks, midweek trips and longer holidays," Ryanair's deputy chief executive Michael Cawley said.

"Our low fares will also help expatriate Moroccans to see their families more often and facilitate local businesses in accessing markets with low-fare routes including those already announced to Frankfurt and Marseilles."

Ryanair has been seeking the right conditions to operate to Malta amid a raging controversy over the perceived benefits and threats to the island of low-cost airlines.