Morocco’s national airline, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), has temporarily bolstered its capacity by chartering four Airbus A320 aircraft to meet an unprecedented surge in year-end travel demand linked to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the holiday period.
The aircraft, delivered in mid-December, were leased from Avion Express Malta and Heston Airlines under wet-lease arrangements that include flight crews, as RAM pilots are not yet certified on Airbus models. RAM deployed its own cabin crew to maintain service standards, the airline said.
Expanded Operations and Strategic Growth in 2025
The capacity boost comes amid a broader expansion of RAM’s network and operations in 2025. The airline has been strengthening its continental and international route offerings, resuming and launching services across Africa and Europe and increasing frequencies on key markets. This includes resumed direct flights to several French cities, deeper penetration in African markets like N’Djamena in Chad, and plans for new connections to European and global destinations in 2026.
In the wake of AFCON 2025, RAM also unveiled a commemorative aircraft livery celebrating Morocco’s role as host, reinforcing its image as an aviation leader on the continent.
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The airline’s strategic ambitions extend beyond short-term measures. RAM is pursuing a major long-term fleet expansion plan aiming to acquire up to 200 new aircraft by 2037 to support growth and double its network reach.
RAM’s core fleet remains predominantly Boeing, supplemented by Embraer and ATR aircraft. The Airbus charters mark a temporary diversification to cope with peak seasonal demand. The added planes were rapidly deployed on high-traffic routes from Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Oujda, Tangier and Nador to destinations in France, Belgium, and Italy.
The surge in traffic mirrors record passenger volumes at Moroccan airports. Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport recently surpassed 11 million annual passengers, driven largely by AFCON-related travel, tourism and business flows.
The Airbus deployment underscores RAM’s flexible response to market conditions as it balances operational needs with strategic fleet planning. As the airline broadens its network and modernises its fleet, Morocco aims to strengthen Casablanca’s role as a major aviation hub linking Africa with Europe, the Americas and beyond.
