Royal Air Maroc Faces Booking Challenges Amid Discounted Flight Initiative for Moroccan Expats

Following the instructions of King Mohammed VI, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has offered reduced and fixed rates to facilitate the return of Moroccans residing abroad (MREs). However, many customers have not been able to obtain a ticket at the preferential rate, whether directly on the RAM website or through an online travel agency. Another unfortunate situation: thousands of previously confirmed bookings have been cancelled without any explanation. It is desolation in the ranks of those who want to return to Morocco this summer and travel agents.

"It’s PR! The advertised prices are just smoke and mirrors. The RAM website was inaccessible all night and when we were able to connect, there were no more tickets or at least tickets at 1,500 € for the outward and the same for the return and per person. It’s mocking the world. Shame on those who announce such false advertising," denounces a customer on the Air-Journal platform, Monday. "Our telephone standards are saturated with calls and we don’t know what to say..." says a French travel agent.

"A record influx has been observed on our various distribution channels - website, Royal Air Maroc agencies and travel agencies. If the flights on certain dates have been completely saturated, more than 70% of the capacity put in place for the period is still available for sale. We therefore encourage customers to look for alternative dates if they cannot find seats on their initially planned dates," the national airline responded in a statement.

What could explain these "HX flights" (cancelled flights)? At the origin of this problem, the poor management of discounted airline tickets booked in class Y only, explains a distributor. On the instructions of King Mohammed VI, RAM has practiced reduced and fixed rates to facilitate the return of MREs.