Rabat – Air Arabia Maroc, Morocco’s low-cost carrier, has been found in significant breach of international aviation safety standards following a comprehensive audit by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
The audit, conducted in September, revealed eight critical (Level 1) and one significant (Level 2) safety violations, raising questions about the airline’s compliance with essential safety regulations.
The European Aviation Safety Agency, or EASA, is the European Union’s aviation regulator, responsible for overseeing and enforcing air safety standards across Europe.
The agency sets strict operational, maintenance, and safety requirements for airlines to ensure passenger and crew safety. EASA also conducts audits and on-site assessments of airlines operating within or into Europe to verify compliance with international and EU aviation safety rules.
EASA’s investigation into Air Arabia Maroc was triggered by a confidential report alleging operational and maintenance shortcomings that could jeopardize flight safety.
These concerns led EASA to place Air Arabia Maroc under intensified surveillance, with on-site assessments at the airline’s Casablanca facilities.
Key issues highlighted by EASA included violations in flight and duty time limitations, indicating that Air Arabia Maroc’s scheduling practices consistently disregarded regulatory fatigue management guidelines.
A source provided Morocco World News access to EASA’s report according to which “home stand-by duties were repeatedly scheduled during legally required rest periods,” a practice that compromises crew alertness and safety.
The audit further disclosed that in several cases, positioning flights were scheduled during rest periods, with scheduling software not reflecting real-time operations.
The airline’s Minimum Equipment List (MEL) for its Airbus A320 fleet was also found lacking. EASA pointed out that the MEL was only updated 159 days after EASA issued a new version, failing to comply with international maintenance requirements.
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This delay indicates that essential equipment and maintenance standards might not have been addressed promptly, posing potential safety risks for passengers and crew alike.
Adding to the controversy, several breaches were reportedly linked to Capt. Darwin Triggs, Air Arabia Maroc’s Head of Flight Operations.
Triggs, who previously held a similar position with Wizz Air before being dismissed, is accused of overlooking regulatory violations in duty schedules and extending flight times under non-qualifying conditions.
Morocco World News reached out to Air Arabia Maroc for comment but received no response at the time of writing. While we remain open to an interview or any statements the airline wishes to provide in its defense, EASA’s findings are too critical – and alarming – to ignore or delay reporting about.
EASA has meanwhile stated that it will continue to monitor the airline closely, stressing the importance of adherence to international safety standards to protect passengers and uphold global aviation safety.
