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Marrakech – Avolon has agreed to lease six Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft to Royal Air Maroc (RAM), marking the leading global aviation finance company’s first lease agreement with the Moroccan national carrier.
The first two aircraft have already been delivered in recent weeks, with the remaining four scheduled for delivery throughout 2025 and 2026, according to Avolon’s October 14 press release.
RAM currently operates a fleet of 59 aircraft and serves 98 destinations across 46 countries on four continents. The airline leverages its strategic Casablanca hub to connect Africa with Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East.
“We are excited to welcome Royal Air Maroc as a new customer to support their ambitious growth plans. Africa is expected to be one of the fastest-growing regions for aviation over the next twenty years, with the network expansion enhancing business growth and social development,” said Paul Geaney, President and Chief Commercial Officer at Avolon.
The Boeing Commercial Market Outlook 2025-2044 projects traffic growth of over 6% annually in Africa through 2044, with more than 1,200 new aircraft expected to join the continent’s commercial fleet.
Abdelhamid Addou, Chairman and CEO of Royal Air Maroc, described the agreement as “a significant milestone in the execution of our 10-year Growth Program.” He stressed that the new aircraft will not only increase operational capacity but also accelerate RAM’s transformation “from a regional carrier into a global connector linking Africa with the rest of the world.”
“These aircraft, with their improved efficiency and passenger comfort, will enable us to strengthen our competitiveness, expand our network, and provide a travel experience that meets the highest international standards,” Addou added.
The lease agreement supports RAM’s ambitious expansion strategy, which aims to increase its annual passenger capacity from the current 7.5 million to 32 million by 2037, positioning the airline among the world’s leading carriers.
Since mid-2025, RAM received several Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft to boost its narrowbody capacity.
According to industry reports, RAM has launched a tender process for new aircraft as part of its long-term expansion plan. The airline aims to quadruple its fleet size to approximately 200 aircraft by 2037.
As a Oneworld alliance member with a 4-star Skytrax rating, RAM is working toward expanding its presence in the aviation market.
In April, the airline was named an Official Global Partner for the upcoming major African football competitions organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), including the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 in Morocco, where RAM will deploy 660 additional flights.
Avolon maintains an owned, managed, and committed fleet of 1,159 aircraft and works with 141 airlines across 62 countries as of September 30. The company prides itself on deep customer relationships, a collaborative team approach, and fast execution while investing with a long-term perspective.
