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Marrakech – Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has taken delivery of a new Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft, the first of six planes leased from Aviation Capital Group (ACG) as part of a deal that will see the remaining five delivered throughout 2026.
The California-based aircraft lessor announced the delivery on Monday. The jet is powered by CFM LEAP-1B engines and comes from ACG’s orderbook. The transaction builds on what the company described as a longstanding relationship with Morocco’s flag carrier.
ACG CEO Thomas Baker said the deal supports the airline’s fleet modernization and expansion plans with latest-generation, fuel-efficient aircraft. ACG manages roughly 450 owned, managed, and committed aircraft leased to about 85 airlines across 50 countries. Founded in 1989, the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation.
For Royal Air Maroc, the six new narrowbodies arrive at a critical moment. The airline is in the middle of an aggressive expansion drive aimed at transforming Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport into a global aviation hub. CEO Abdelhamid Addou has outlined a long-term fleet plan to grow from roughly 60 aircraft today to 200 by 2037, with a target of carrying 31.6 million passengers annually.
Addou stressed the integration of the six 737-8 MAX jets will strengthen Royal Air Maroc’s short and medium-haul network. He added that the aircraft will support the airline’s ambition to become a leading global connector, linking Africa and Europe to the wider international network.
In late January, Royal Air Maroc signed a separate long-term lease with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise for 13 additional Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with deliveries starting in 2027, further reinforcing the airline’s medium-haul fleet expansion strategy.
By the end of 2026, the airline plans to increase its fleet from 62 aircraft to 72. RAM has also launched a tender for 188 additional aircraft as part of a $25 billion investment program.
The fleet buildup is directly tied to Morocco’s preparations for major sporting events, including the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host with Spain and Portugal. The airline has already begun rolling out new routes across Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
A new nonstop service between Casablanca and Los Angeles is set to launch on June 7, operated three times weekly using Boeing 787 aircraft. Frequencies on long-haul routes to São Paulo, Miami, Washington, and Dubai will also increase.
Since 2023, Royal Air Maroc has taken delivery of around ten additional aircraft, increased frequencies on several strategic destinations, and opened nearly twenty international routes.
The 737-8 MAX, Boeing’s latest single-aisle offering, is designed for lower fuel consumption and reduced operating costs compared to older narrowbody models. For Royal Air Maroc, these aircraft will serve as workhorses on regional routes feeding into Casablanca’s expanding hub network – a structure the airline considers essential to its long-term connectivity strategy.
