War in the Middle East: Is Royal Air Maroc eyeing Qatar Airways and Emirates Boeing aircraft?

Advanced technical discussions are underway with major carriers such as Qatar Airways and Emirates. Assahifa reports that these negotiations concern long-term leases or the direct purchase of frozen orders due to regional military tensions.

On Bladi.net: Royal Air Maroc is sourcing from Qatar Airways

The Moroccan company plans to expand its fleet from 50 to 200 aircraft by 2037. With Boeing and Airbus’ order books full beyond 2029, the decline in activity in the Middle East offers a "window of opportunity" to accelerate this expansion. The ambition of a global hub in Casablanca

The talks, limited to a "very restricted circle", are particularly targeting the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, essential for long-haul operations. Faced with the drop in transit demand, Qatar Airways has also started storing part of its fleet in Teruel, Spain.

The presence of these aircraft in European facilities could facilitate their inspection and technical transfer to Morocco. RAM aims to integrate at least 15 additional aircraft before the end of 2026 to support domestic tourism and prepare for upcoming sporting events.

On Bladi.net: Royal Air Maroc leases six new aircraft

The objective is to take advantage of this situation to establish Casablanca as an alternative and stable connection hub between Africa, Europe and the Americas. The company plans to consolidate its routes to New York, Washington and Miami, while exploring direct connections to Latin America.