Marrakech – The first Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flight to Sal Island, Cape Verde, landed at Amílcar Cabral International Airport on Friday at 1:00 a.m. This inaugural flight departed from Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport on Thursday, September 18, at 11:00 p.m.
Local Cape Verdean authorities warmly welcomed the flight upon its arrival. A symbolic ceremony marked the occasion, attended by representatives from both Cape Verdean officials and the Moroccan airline.
The new route will operate twice weekly, with flights scheduled for Thursdays and Sundays. This addition complements RAM’s existing service to Praia, the Cape Verdean capital, strengthening connections between the two nations.
This direct link aims to boost economic, cultural, and tourism exchanges between Morocco and Cape Verde. For Moroccan travelers, the route provides easier access to this Atlantic archipelago, known for its white sand beaches, year-round sunny climate, and various water activities.
The connection also offers strategic benefits for the Cape Verdean diaspora. Through RAM’s extensive international network and its Casablanca hub, Cape Verdeans living worldwide – particularly in Europe and North America – will gain improved connectivity to their home country.
The Casablanca-Sal route was initially announced in June, when RAM revealed plans for four new international destinations launching in September. These included Zurich (Switzerland), N’Djamena (Chad), Sal Island (Cape Verde), and Munich (Germany).
RAM has already successfully launched its Casablanca-N’Djamena route on September 17, with the inaugural flight departing at 11:40 p.m. and arriving in Chad’s capital at 5:05 a.m. the following morning. This route also operates twice weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
RAM’s growing ‘leadership in African air transport’
These new connections are part of RAM’s broader strategy to expand its international network. With the N’Djamena addition, RAM now offers 29 direct routes across Africa.
Hamid Addou, CEO of Royal Air Maroc, previously stated that new routes help Casablanca grow as a major international hub. “It also confirms our leadership in African air transport. We are proud to offer our customers a wider and more efficient network,” he said.
The expansion comes as Morocco prepares to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). As the event’s official global partner, RAM will deploy more than 660 additional flights, increasing its capacity by over 50% to accommodate the expected 500,000 football fans.
This transportation plan includes doubling seat capacity on routes serving qualified countries already in RAM’s network and strengthening flight frequencies from European cities with large African diaspora communities.
