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Rabat – Royal Air Maroc (RAM) inaugurated on Monday the first Casablanca–Es-Smara flight.
This launch marks an important step toward enhancing Morocco’s national air network and supporting the socio-economic development of its southern regions.
Speaking upon arrival aboard the inaugural flight, Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh said that the establishment of this new route in a record time of less than six months reflects “a collective and coordinated effort among all institutional partners.”
According to the minister, the new air link will reduce travel distances, facilitate mobility, and stimulate investment in Es-Smara, positioning the city as an emerging logistical and economic hub in southern Morocco.
He also announced that, in coordination with the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), plans are underway to expand Es-Smara Airport to accommodate larger aircraft and upgrade its classification from level C to level B, enabling it to receive Boeing and Airbus planes.
For his part, Hamdi Ould Errachid, President of the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra Regional Council, underlined that Es-Smara is now on track for an integrated development program that includes strengthening air transport as a key driver of regional growth.
Naoual Aït Hammou, RAM’s Director of Operations, stated that the national carrier is committed to ensuring accessible air transport services and to “placing citizens at the heart of its mission and territorial development strategy.”
RAM’s structured network now connects Laâyoune, Dakhla, Guelmim, Tan-Tan, and Es-Smara with Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, and Agadir through 63 weekly flights, offering an annual capacity of one million seats.
The new route is the result of joint coordination between the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, the Ministry of the Interior, RAM, the National Airports Office (ONDA), and the provincial and regional councils.
The Casablanca-Es-Smara service will operate twice a week, further reinforcing Morocco’s commitment to balanced territorial development and regional integration.
