Air China adds Marrakech to its network without flying its own aircraft there

The agreement was unveiled this Friday, 18 September, by Aviation Week. Air China will place its code on flights operated by Turkish Airlines between Istanbul and Marrakech.

In practical terms, the aircraft serving Marrakech will remain those of Turkish Airlines. Air China will nevertheless be able to sell these flights under its own number and include them in itineraries linking its Chinese network to the Moroccan city, with a connection in Istanbul.

This extension therefore creates neither a new direct route between China and Marrakech nor additional air capacity. It does, however, open a new marketing channel for Chinese travellers using Air China.

On Bladi.net : Morocco Expands Air Links with China, Anticipating Tourism Boost

The agreement works both ways. Turkish Airlines will place its code on Air China flights between Beijing and six Chinese cities: Chongqing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Qingdao and Xiamen. The two Star Alliance members are thus expanding the destinations they can offer their customers without operating every route themselves.

Marrakech among nine destinations opened to Air China

Marrakech is among nine destinations added to Air China’s commercial network via Istanbul. The others are Accra, Algiers, Ankara, Cancún, Dar es-Salaam, Lagos, Mexico City and Tunis. The ochre city is the only destination in the kingdom concerned by this new extension.

The operation mainly strengthens Marrakech’s access to the Chinese market. A traveller will be able to be directed to an itinerary sold by Air China to Morocco, even if the final part of the journey is operated by Turkish Airlines.

This new gateway complements the services already available between the two countries. Royal Air Maroc reinstated its direct route between Casablanca and Beijing in January 2025, operating three flights per week. The Moroccan carrier has also launched cooperation with China Southern Airlines to expand connections between China and Africa.

On Bladi.net : article 52212

Until now, Marrakech had been served from Istanbul solely under the commercial identity of Turkish Airlines. The route was initially launched with five weekly rotations before becoming more significant in the Turkish carrier’s Moroccan network.

The new development announced on 18 September is therefore commercial rather than operational: Air China does not yet operate its aircraft in Marrakech, but can now include the city in its own network and offer Morocco to its passengers under its code.