Royal Air Maroc acquires new aircraft

This is a small revolution on the tarmac. Historically loyal to the American manufacturer Boeing for its medium-haul flights, RAM had to urgently adapt to an exceptional situation. With record traffic - Casablanca’s Mohammed V airport has just crossed the 11 million passenger mark - boosted by the arrival of supporters and delegations for the Africa Cup of Nations, the current fleet of around 60 aircraft was no longer sufficient. The company has therefore leased four Airbus A320 aircraft from the specialized operators Avion Express Malta and Heston Airlines.

These aircraft, which arrived in mid-December, operate under a particular model: the pilots are provided by the lessors (RAM’s captains not being certified on Airbus), while the cabin crew is that of the Moroccan company. This mix allows to maintain the usual quality of service and welcome on board.

The deployment of these planes is strategic and covers the most popular routes to Europe:

• From Casablanca: The aircraft registered 9H-AMM serves France, Belgium and Italy.

• From Marrakech: The LY-VUT ensures the connections to the French and Belgian cities.

• From the North and South: A third aircraft connects Agadir to France and Oujda to Paris, while the fourth connects Tangier and Nador to the French capital.

Beyond the urgency, this operation could foreshadow the future. While RAM launched a massive tender in April 2024 to acquire up to 200 aircraft by 2037, the introduction of these Airbus, even temporarily, confirms the carrier’s serious interest in the European rival of Boeing, notably following a technical visit to the Toulouse factories last year.