Moroccan Expats in North America Protest Soaring Royal Air Maroc Fares

MREs in the United States and Canada are angry with Royal Air Maroc (RAM). The source of this anger is the surge in airfare prices to and from Morocco. The round-trip economy class airfares from certain American and Canadian cities on the national airline range between 9,000 and 22,000 dirhams, reports Hespress. This price increase is explained by several factors, including the rise in travel demand during peak periods, the depreciation of the Moroccan currency against the US dollar and the euro, as well as the cancellation of certain flights by some airlines to Morocco, thus reducing the number of available seats.

This situation prevents some MREs from returning to Morocco. In a statement to the same site, a Moroccan residing in Canada says she has not been able to visit her family in Morocco for two years due to the high cost of airline tickets. "While members of the community in several European countries benefit from offers from various airlines, including low-cost carriers, as well as maritime crossings, we in Canada are forced to travel to Morocco via Royal Air Maroc. This should not be exploited by the [Royal Air Maroc] company as a profit opportunity," she laments, noting that ticket prices have become exorbitant, especially for large families of more than three people.

"I feel great sadness at not being able to visit my country when I have the opportunity," laments a Moroccan residing in the United States. He calls on the competent authorities to "intervene to reduce these prices throughout the year, rather than offers at specific periods that do not suit everyone, so that we can visit our families without having to bear a heavy financial burden."

Last week, Mohamed Al Amine Hormat Allah, from the National Rally of Independents (RNI) group, addressed a written question to the Minister of Transport and Logistics, asking him what measures he intends to take to reduce the cost of tickets and to subsidize tickets in order to facilitate the return of the diaspora to the country.