Royal Air Maroc adds 15-year-old Embraer E190 retired by Kenya Airways in 2025
It has just arrived in Casablanca, but its first flight dates back to 2011. Royal Air Maroc has taken delivery of a 15-year-old Embraer E190 that previously flew for Kenya Airways and visited several European airports, under a lease from U.S. company Azorra.
On Wednesday, October 21, the Embraer E190 registered as CN-RIA landed in Casablanca from Exeter, in southwest England. Flight AT8790 marked the arrival of the first of two aircraft leased by Royal Air Maroc from Azorra Aviation.
The aircraft’s story began on May 6, 2011, with its first flight in Brazil. Delivered to Kenya Airways that same year under registration 5Y-KYQ, it carried passengers for the African airline until 2025.
Withdrawn from service in January 2025, it remained parked in Nairobi and then in Bydgoszcz, Poland, before arriving in Exeter in May 2026, according to Planespotters. There, it underwent maintenance at Exeter Aerospace. Its journey to Casablanca on October 21 is recorded in Flightradar24’s flight history.
Two leased aircraft to expand the fleet
By September 30, U.S. lessor Azorra was already listing two Embraer E190s for Royal Air Maroc, with delivery scheduled for 2026. A second aircraft, registered as CN-RHW, is due to follow CN-RIA.
RAM already operates four E190s. The arrival of the other two will bring the small fleet to six aircraft, a 50% increase. The first four had already changed owners in 2024 following a transaction between lessors.
The airline is also expanding its Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet. Two deliveries on September 25 and 30 brought the total to 20 aircraft, according to NewsAero. The two planes are leased from Aviation Capital Group.
Royal Air Maroc now has 71 aircraft, according to the specialist outlet. Its stated goal is to reach 130 aircraft by 2030, then 200 by 2038.
