Royal Air Maroc Plans Massive Fleet Expansion, Weighs Airbus and Boeing Offers

On April 15, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) had launched an international call for tenders for the purchase of new aircraft. The company has already received proposals from the main manufacturers in the aviation sector. "The technical evaluation of the offers is completed, and the decision will be made before the end of the year," said Abdelhamid Addou, CEO of RAM.

Although the American manufacturer Boeing is facing difficulties, particularly due to strikes paralyzing its assembly plants in Renton and Everett in the United States, the national airline plans to renew its trust in it. But it will not be the only partner in the framework of the new investment program of the national company, because "the possibility will be open to several manufacturers," said the CEO of RAM to Asharq Business, adding that this would give the European Airbus the opportunity to benefit from a share of the contract.

The acquisition of 200 new aircraft aims to quadruple RAM’s fleet within a decade, in order to propel the Moroccan company towards new ambitions and contribute to the growth of tourism in Morocco. This acquisition is part of the country’s tourism development plan, which aims to attract 17.5 million tourists by 2026 and 26 million by 2030, the year in which Morocco will host the World Cup.

Pending the actual acquisition of these aircraft, RAM is awaiting the delivery of two Boeing Dreamliners initially scheduled for September and then postponed to the end of this year. The American manufacturer will also have to deliver 10 aircraft to it next year under long-term leasing contracts. The national carrier is also opting for aircraft leasing. "The use of the leasing option is a common practice among the majority of airlines around the world due to the long delivery times related to purchases," Addou stressed.