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Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Transport Mohamed Abdeljalil has defended Royal Air Maroc (RAM) in defiance of the Moroccan diaspora’s ongoing protest against the exorbitant prices of RAM tickets and poor service quality at the Mohammed V airport.
Recalling the impact of COVID-19 on international carriers, Abdeljalil stressed that Royal Air Maroc is one of the airlines that were severely affected by both the pandemic and its lingering repercussions.
Morocco took a series of preventive measures to tackle COVID-19, including the closure of borders and air restrictions.
The situation caused Royal Air Maroc to lose over MAD 50 million or $ 5 million per day, Abdeljlil recalled, stressing that the pandemic was an unprecedented challenge for RAM.
“But thanks to the intervention of the State, RAM’s situation has been restored,” the minister told Moroccan news outlet Le360, adding that the intervention’s aim was to preserve the company’s financial balance.
Initially, the airline did not receive any government aid, but the government acknowledged that it intervened to tackle the challenges Royal Air Maroc faced due to COVID-19 and high energy prices.
With regards to ticket prices, Abdeljalil said that this is a universal challenge, stressing that the flight tickets as practiced internationally increased by 25% due to COVID-19 impacts and inflation.
The statement comes amid concerns and uproar from many diaspora members – particularly those living in the US, who have strongly condemned the overpriced flights tickets to Morocco.
With the price of a round trip flight from the US to Morocco standing at over $2,000, many Moroccans living in the US have had to either cancel or rethink their plans of traveling to their home country for summer vacation.
Royal Air Maroc as well as the Mohammed V international airport faced heavy criticism from many travelers, who accused it of low-quality services.
Read also: Mohammed V Airport, Royal Air Maroc Under Customers Scrutiny Amid Lost Luggage Scandals
Some of the videos shared with Morocco World News (MWN) show one of the Moroccan citizens exploding with anger at the airport, stressing that his lost luggage had been missing for four days.
“Bring back my luggage, it has my medicines, I am going to die. Bring it to me now. Shame on you, I have been waiting here for four days. I paid my ticket. Give me back my medicines. I came from the US to my homeland to experience this…. This is unbearable,” one of the travelers said.
MWN contacted Royal Air Maroc previously for a comment on the loss of luggage, but an employee of the airline declined to respond.
“We are not having any comments because of this; because actually I don’t know what you are talking about, I did not see the videos,” the RAM employee told MWN, adding that Royal Air Maroc has been doing “whatever is necessary” to ensure customers’ satisfaction.
Abdeljalil commented on the situation of luggage, saying that the National Airports Office (ONDA) has been monitoring the quality of the services provided.
“Its program includes major projects for Nouaceur airport. There was recently the opening of a new international terminal at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca. In everyone’s opinion, this drop-off room has improved services,” he said.
Read also: Minister Touts Royal Air Maroc’s Customers ‘Satisfactory’ Rate Amid Diaspora Concerns
The minister, however, acknowledged the persistence of services challenges at the Mohammed V airport, especially the loss of luggage.
“The matter is being dealt with,” he said.
Abdeljalil also commended air services provided by Morocco, stressing the country’s central role in Africa.
“It is a hub and that is why during the next 15 years, during the duration of the program contract, RAM will acquire the aircraft on average per year. It is in 2024 that RAM will begin to strengthen its fleet,” he indeed.
Earlier in July, Morocco’s government and the Moroccan carrier signed a contract that will see the cabinet providing support for the company’s investment project.
The program aims to help RAM expand its fleet, increasing from the existing 50 fleet to 200 over the next 15 years.
“It is an ambitious program and the budget that will be devoted to it will only be known according to its development, “ the minister added.
