Royal Air Maroc's key role in tourism strategy

The agreement, signed in July this year, extends until 2037.

(The agreement was signed a couple of months before early September’s devastating earthquake that caused such colossal damage to towns, villages and infrasructure – and consequent loss of life – in the inaccessible Atlas Mountains’ region of the country. African Aerospace extends its condolences and sympathies to all those affected.)

At the signing ceremony, Moroccan prime minister Aziz Akhannouch, said that the state’s investment in Royal Air Maroc would be strengthened as part of the government's support for the airline: To ensure the implementation of its development plan; to support its competitiveness; and to enhance both digitalisation and the improvement of service quality.

The Moroccan government regards Royal Air Maroc as a key player in developing international air routes to support the country’s strategic tourism roadmap. This policy also aims to attract investments and businesses that will consolidate, diversify and modernise the country's industrial fabric.

Revealing the outlines and concepts of its development strategy, Abdelhamid Addou affirmed that the national company intends to integrate new aircraft into its fleet from 2024, resulting in an increase of its current 50-strong fleet to around 200 aircraft over the coming quarter of a century.

Subsequently, a ‘request for proposal’ (RFP) was launched for 10 aircraft and this culminated on 16 August with the announcement of a contract with Air Lease Corporation that includes the leasing of four Boeing 737 MAX 8s and one Boeing 737-800. Delivery of these aircraft is scheduled from mid-2024 and is an integral part of ALC’s order book with Boeing. Royal Air Maroc already had two Boeing 737 MAXs in its fleet – and was due to receive two more – but this introduction was affected by the two much-publicised accidents in Africa and the Far East that resulted in the type being temporarily grounded.

According to recent news releases, negotiations are already underway with Boeing to order Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners while a new tender will be issued by the end of this year for a larger order of aircraft – purchase and/or lease – from a variety of OEMs.

By 2037, RAM intends to be transporting 31.6 million passengers each year compared with an annual total of 7.6 million today and it forecasts an annual turnover of 94-billion Dirhams (US$9.2bn. Its workforce is also targeted to increase from 3,500 to 11,000 employees.

RAM will also enhance its network and increase from 99 to 143 destinations, opening new international routes from Casablanca and its other bases in the country, targeting African, American and Asian markets.

The company also intends to set up 46 domestic services from small and medium-sized towns to promote tourism throughout the Kingdom, meaning that domestic passengers will no longer be forced to transit through Casablanca.

Royal Air Maroc’s code share agreement with Emirates is another growing passenger benefit as is the airline’s membership of the Oneworld alliance.

“Our objective is also to strengthen the links between the Moroccan diaspora and their home country, connect more cities and open up many isolated regions in the Kingdom through enhanced domestic air links,” concluded Abdelhamid Addou.