Airbus partners with Royal Air Maroc to expand fleet by 2037

In a landmark development for Moroccan aviation, Airbus is set to become a supplier for Royal Air Maroc (RAM), marking a significant departure from the airline's traditional reliance on Boeing and ATR. This partnership promises to reshape the national carrier's fleet and position it as a major player on the African continent.

According to reports from French media, Airbus has been designated as one of two suppliers for RAM's ambitious fleet expansion. A source close to the negotiations confirmed that “Airbus has been retained to be one of the two suppliers of Royal Air Maroc. The French aircraft will indeed fly in the colors of the national company.” An official announcement regarding this unprecedented partnership is anticipated in the coming weeks.

Delays in finalizing the agreement have emerged due to complications surrounding traffic rights and slots that RAM lost during renovation work at key French airports, particularly Orly. The Moroccan side contends that Air France and its subsidiary Transavia have not faced similar slot issues at Moroccan airports.

This partnership is part of RAM's broader expansion strategy, which was unveiled in April 2024 when the airline initiated a tender for new aircraft. The goal is to quadruple its fleet from the current 60 aircraft to nearly 200 by 2037, thereby establishing RAM as one of the largest carriers in Africa.

The airline's growth is bolstered by Morocco’s booming tourism sector, which welcomed 17.4 million visitors in 2024—a 20% increase from the previous year. The upward trend continues into 2025, with 4 million tourists arriving in just the first quarter. Additionally, preparations for the co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal are spurring the need for enhanced air transport infrastructure.

RAM has already initiated its fleet development strategy, having welcomed a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport in November 2024. This aircraft is part of a larger order that includes seven Boeing 737 MAX jets for medium-haul routes and three additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for long-haul operations.

Airbus views Morocco as a crucial partner in its growth strategy. At Airbus’s third summit in Toulouse in March, Wouter Van Wersch, the company's International Executive Vice President, emphasized Morocco’s potential within the aviation sector, noting that Airbus accounts for 70% of the country’s aviation industry, generating revenues exceeding €1 billion in 2023.

Further strengthening its relationship with Morocco, Airbus finalized a $439 million agreement in April to acquire the Spirit AeroSystems facility in Casablanca, which manufactures components for the A321 and A220 aircraft models. This 25,000-square-meter facility employs 800 workers and produces essential parts, including leading edge wing components and flap track stringers.

To meet the increasing global demand, Airbus is focusing on its Moroccan operations to enhance production capabilities. In June 2024, Patrick Derderian, the Group’s Director of International Cooperation for Africa, outlined plans to ramp up production to 75 aircraft per month by 2026, emphasizing the commitment to employing a fully Moroccan workforce.

This burgeoning economic collaboration reflects the improving diplomatic relations between France and Morocco, which had experienced a temporary chill. The €10 billion in contracts signed in October 2024 illustrate both nations' eagerness to rejuvenate their long-standing partnership.

This warming of ties is also evident in other sectors, such as transportation. Alstom is supplying 18 TGV trains for the new high-speed rail line connecting Kenitra to Marrakech, a significant investment of €5 billion that underscores the importance of infrastructure development ahead of the upcoming global sporting event.