Rabat – Aerospace company Airbus is turning to its Moroccan facilities to significantly boost its production capabilities, aiming to manufacture 75 aircrafts per month by 2026.
Patrick Derderian, the Group’s Director of International Cooperation for Africa, made this announcement on Tuesday during a visit to the Airbus Atlantic Morocco Composites plant in Nouaceur.
Derderian emphasized the longstanding and evolving relationship between Airbus and Morocco, noting, “Morocco has been a crucial industrial partner for over 70 years, and even more so in the past three decades.”
He added that Airbus’s commitment to utilizing a fully Moroccan workforce at its Morocco plants highlights the country’s skill development and readiness to meet high industry standards.
According to Derderian, the partnership between Airbus and Morocco is built on mutual trust and the sharing of expertise, aiming to elevate the Moroccan aerospace sector.
Meanwhile, Housni Faek, General Manager of Airbus Atlantic Morocco Composites, revealed that the plant, which currently employs nearly 1,000 people, plans to recruit an additional 200 employees in 2024.
At Airbus Atlantic Morocco Composites, the production of composite parts spans from cockpit linings to baggage compartments, and trim pieces to landing gear hatches. These components are essential for the A320 family of aircraft and are shipped to France for final assembly and global distribution.
The plant’s role as the sole supplier of A320 cockpits signifies its operational excellence and the high level of trust placed in it by Airbus.
Over the past few years, Morocco has developed specialized centers of excellence in areas such as electronics, surface treatment, metalworking, and assembly, making it a critical part of Airbus’s supply chain and reinforcing its status as a premier aerospace hub in Africa.
Airbus’s deep roots in Morocco date back to 1951, with continuous expansions to enhance local capabilities and infrastructure. In 2014, the creation of a new 15,000 square meter facility in the Midparc zone was a strategic move to increase production capacity and further develop local skills.
With an order book standing at 7,762 aircraft, Airbus’s investment in Morocco is pivotal in meeting the surging demand.
