Fez– Royal Air Maroc is seeking to become a leading force in building an open and interconnected African airspace, according to the airline’s Chief Executive Officer Abdelhamid Addou.
Speaking on Tuesday during a panel discussion at AFCAC Expo 2026 in Lomé, Togo, Addou said the Moroccan national carrier has made African connectivity a strategic priority as part of a broader vision for a continent free from air transport barriers.
The airline is expanding its network around its Casablanca hub to make travel between African countries easier and to support regional economic integration, he said.
Addou noted that under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, Royal Air Maroc has invested heavily in strengthening air links across Africa.
Today, he said, the airline is one of the main carriers connecting African countries with Europe and the Americas.
The CEO also highlighted the challenges still facing the African aviation sector, including regulatory hurdles, high taxes and restrictions on traffic rights.
He said AFCAC Expo 2026 provided an opportunity to stress the need for harmonised regulations and lower taxes in order to boost air connectivity across the continent.
In this regard, Addou underlined Royal Air Maroc’s role in advancing the goals of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), describing the airline as a key player in South-South cooperation and an important driver of regional economic integration and trade.
Morocco is taking part in AFCAC Expo 2026 with a delegation led by Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh.
The delegation also includes Morocco’s Ambassador to Benin and Togo Rachid Rguibi, Director General of the National Airports Office Adel El Fakir, and Royal Air Maroc CEO Abdelhamid Addou.
The event, held from June 15 to 19 in the Togolese capital, is organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission in partnership with the African Union under the theme “One African Sky: Connectivity and Sustainable Development of Air Transport.”
It aims to accelerate the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market and strengthen aviation links across Africa.
