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Rabat – Calls to boycott Morocco’s national carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) are gaining traction, as more people take to social media to denounce the skyrocketing prices of US-Morocco ticket prices.
As of May 2023, a single roundtrip ticket from Dulles International (IAD) in Washington to Mohammed V (CMN) in Casablanca soared to a staggering $2,260 for economy class.
“The price of Royal Air Maroc tickets is very much exaggerated from the United States of America to Morocco: 2000$,” one Twitter user wrote in contempt.
“And from Europe to Morocco between 450 € to 600 € and only god knows why Morocco has become one of the highest priced countries in the world,” the tweet reads.
ثمن تذاكر الخطوط الملكية المغربية مبالغ فيها كثيرا كثيرا من ولايات المتحدة الاميركية الى المغرب 2000$
ومن أوروبا الى المغرب بين 450€ الى 600€ علاش الله اعلم اصبح المغرب من الدول الأعلى سعرا في العالم
ربما الحكومة المغربية لا تريد مجيء الجالية المغربية لأرض الوطن pic.twitter.com/Hup692V1LR— Anass anass (@anassi0606) May 13, 2023
Morocco-US tickets are soaring across all routes as round-trip tickets from New York to Casablanca have also exceeded $1,700.
“A message from the Moroccan community to Royal Air Maroc @RAM_Maroc Please reconsider your prices,” one Moroccan Facebook user wrote.
“We are the community residing in America and Canada. Ticket prices have reached unimaginable levels for one person, even if it’s a child,” she added.
In an expression of indignation, the Facebook user wrote, “Do you only care about personal profit or letting the community enter the country and contribute to the national economy?”
“Please improve the services provided to us, reduce the price of tickets, and do not use every occasion to increase prices,” she added.
In a private Facebook page for Moroccan women in the US, one frustrated user wrote, “Will no one speak out against the rising ticket prices that are closing on the $2000 threshold?”
The shockingly high prices of US-Morocco RAM flight tickets are even more apparent when compared to price tickets from the US to Dubai provide by Emirate airlines, which stand at $1653.
Mounting frustration
A Moroccan resident in the United States who agreed to speak to Morocco World News under the condition of anonymity expressed his disbelief that Royal Air Maroc’s pricing strategy this year, stating that it defies all logic and will have a detrimental impact on the country’s tourism industry.
He cautioned that the exorbitant prices could prompt tens of thousands of tourists to choose other destinations with more affordable airfares.
The Moroccan residing in the US highlighted the stark contrast in prices, emphasizing the significant difference between a Royal Air Maroc flight from Washington or New York to Casablanca, priced at around $1,800, and an Iberia flight from Washington or New York to Madrid, costing approximately $800.
Unable to afford the exorbitant airfare, the Moroccan residing in the US made the decision to travel to Spain instead of Morocco this year. The citizen also expressed sadness and anger, knowing that their children would miss out on the opportunity to visit their country of origin.
The soaring ticket prices pose a significant barrier for Moroccans living abroad who wish to visit their home country.
He warned that second and third-generation Moroccans in the United States may begin to lose their sense of belonging to Morocco due to the difficulty in maintaining their connection to the country.
“Moroccan Airlines operates based on purely commercial logic, which is incompatible with the public policies promoted by the state regarding the Moroccan diaspora,” Youssef Saoud, a Moroccan data miner working in Washington DC wrote in a Facebook post.
“The issue at hand goes beyond financial gains and involves the delicate relationship between a generation born abroad and their home country, which can be jeopardized by distance,” Saoud explains.
“It seems that those in charge of this public institution fail to understand the “public” aspect emphasized by the head of state in his speeches. Their limited understanding prevents them from differentiating between the company’s role as a corporate citizen and an extension of state management, as well as its responsibility towards the community and its mission as a commercial entity,” he added.
He continues: “It is only natural for the company to prioritize serving this specific category of Moroccans. It should not be seen as a mere financial transaction but rather as a means for one group to contribute to the other by facilitating visits through tax incentives and other appropriate measures.”
Moroccan students studying abroad have also expressed their frustration over the high prices of airline tickets. Numerous citizens have taken to Royal Air Maroc’s social media platforms to voice their complaints and inquire about any potential reductions in flight prices.
According to reports, a Royal Air Maroc source acknowledged the concerns and stated that the company would explore the possibility of reducing prices. However, they also noted that other airlines may also experience increases in flight prices.
Read Also: Call to Boycott Royal Air Maroc Over Soaring US-Morocco Ticket Prices
