Royal Air Maroc Becomes First African Airline to Join Oneworld Alliance

Even though the covid-19 pandemic has somewhat overshadowed the official entry of the airline Royal Air Maroc into this alliance, this major event illuminates the record of the company, which is facing financial difficulties.

According to Air Journal, the Moroccan national airline has been the 14th member of the Oneworld alliance since April 1st, after American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LATAM Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7 Airlines and SriLankan Airlines (plus Fiji Airways as a Connect Partner, and 30 affiliate members).

Through this decision, Royal Air Maroc also becomes the first full member of the alliance on the African continent (and its first new full member since 2014).

According to the alliance’s press release, this arrival "follows a 15-month implementation program" aimed at integrating RAM and its regional subsidiary RAM Express. The latter also joins the group as an affiliate member, it is specified. As for Royal Air Maroc, it had been announced for the first time as an elected member of Oneworld in New York in December 2018, a few weeks before the alliance celebrated its 20th anniversary and launched its transformation.

In doing so, RAM adds 39 new destinations in 23 countries to the Oneworld network, offering "more flights and options for frequent flyers of the alliance member airlines". Thanks to this giant step, the Moroccan national company also connects its Casablanca hub to more than 100 destinations in more than 50 countries across six regions (Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America).