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Doha – In what will be a first-ever partnership for the national carrier, Airbus is poised to become a supplier for Royal Air Maroc (RAM), breaking the airline’s long-standing reliance on Boeing and ATR.
According to French media, Airbus has secured a position as one of two suppliers for RAM’s fleet expansion. “Airbus has been retained to be one of the two suppliers of Royal Air Maroc. The French aircraft will indeed fly in the colors of the national company,” confirms a source close to the file.
The official announcement of this partnership, which would be a first in Moroccan aeronautical history, is expected in the coming weeks.
The finalization of the agreement has been delayed by issues related to traffic rights and slots that RAM lost during renovation works at French airports, particularly Orly.
The Moroccan side argues that Air France and its subsidiary Transavia have never faced similar problems with slots in Moroccan airports.
This deal comes as part of RAM’s ambitious expansion plan announced in April 2024, when the airline launched a tender for new aircraft.
The national carrier aims to quadruple its fleet from the current 60 aircraft to nearly 200 by 2037. This rapid growth positions RAM as one of the largest carriers on the African continent.
The airline’s expansion is fueled by Morocco’s flourishing tourism industry, which recorded 17.4 million visitors in 2024 — a 20% increase from 2023. The momentum has continued into 2025, with 4 million tourists visiting in just the first quarter.
Additionally, preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, are accelerating the need for enhanced air transport infrastructure.
RAM has already begun implementing its fleet development strategy. In November 2024, the airline welcomed a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport, bringing its long-haul fleet to 10 aircraft.
This delivery was part of a larger order of 10 aircraft, including seven Boeing 737 MAX jets for medium-haul routes and three Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners for long-haul operations.
Airbus has recently expressed its view of Morocco as a key partner in aviation growth. During Airbus’s third summit held in Toulouse in March, Wouter Van Wersch, Airbus’s International Executive Vice President, stated that Morocco is a pivotal partner for the company due to its major growth potential in the aviation sector.
He noted that Airbus represents 70% of Morocco’s aviation industry, with revenues exceeding €1 billion in 2023.
The European aircraft manufacturer has also been strengthening its 70-year presence in Morocco. In April, Airbus finalized a $439 million agreement to acquire Spirit AeroSystems’ Casablanca facility, which produces components for the A321 and A220 aircraft models.
The 25,000-square-meter facility, employing 800 workers, manufactures leading edge wing components and the ventral beam for the A220, as well as flap track stringers for the A321.
To meet growing global demand, Airbus is turning to its Moroccan facilities to boost production. In June 2024, Patrick Derderian, the Group’s Director of International Cooperation for Africa, announced plans to reach a production goal of 75 aircraft per month by 2026.
Derderian stressed the company’s commitment to utilizing a fully Moroccan workforce at its plants, underlining the country’s skill development and readiness to meet high industry standards.
This economic collaboration is part of the broader warming of relations between France and Morocco. The diplomatic chill that had temporarily frozen relations between the two countries, and consequently suspended certain business agreements, has thawed.
The €10 billion in contracts signed in October 2024 demonstrate both countries’ willingness to renew their partnership built over time.
The warming ties are evident in other sectors as well, with Alstom supplying 18 TGV trains for the new high-speed rail line connecting Kenitra to Marrakech.
This 430-kilometer LGV project, inaugurated by King Mohammed VI in late April, represents a €5 billion investment and is crucial for infrastructure development ahead of the global sporting event.
