Royal Air Maroc has launched its first direct flight connecting Casablanca to Los Angeles, expanding its long-haul network and strengthening air links between North Africa and the United States West Coast.
The inaugural service marks a major milestone for Morocco’s national carrier as it seeks to deepen its presence in the North American market and tap into growing demand for direct intercontinental travel between Africa and the US.
The new route, which takes approximately 12 hours, is expected to improve connectivity to a region that has traditionally lacked direct air links with Morocco and much of the African continent.
Royal Air Maroc chief executive Hamid Addou described the launch as a “historic milestone” for both the airline and African aviation more broadly, highlighting its strategic importance in expanding the carrier’s global reach.
The Casablanca–Los Angeles service will operate three times per week, with flights departing Casablanca on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 04:00 local time and arriving in Los Angeles at 08:20 local time.
More Read
Return flights depart Los Angeles at 10:20, landing in Casablanca the following day at 05:25, according to the airline’s schedule.
The route is being operated using next-generation wide-body aircraft, designed for long-haul travel and featuring upgraded cabin comfort, enhanced in-flight services and modern entertainment systems.
The addition of Los Angeles extends Royal Air Maroc’s growing North American network, which already includes destinations such as New York, Washington, Miami, Montreal and Toronto.
More Read
The airline has also recently expanded into other global markets, adding routes to cities including Beijing, São Paulo and Saint Petersburg as part of its broader internationalisation strategy.
The new transatlantic link comes as Morocco continues to position itself as a key aviation and logistics hub linking Africa, Europe and the Americas, leveraging Casablanca’s geographic location as a strategic transit point.
Officials say the route also aligns with broader diplomatic and economic ties between Morocco and the United States, including celebrations marking 250 years of bilateral relations and Morocco’s participation in upcoming global sporting events hosted in North America.
Aviation analysts say the introduction of the Los Angeles route reflects growing demand for premium long-haul connectivity and the increasing role of Gulf and African carriers in connecting secondary global routes that bypass traditional European hubs.
However, Royal Air Maroc’s expansion comes amid ongoing operational adjustments. The airline has recently scaled back or suspended certain routes in Europe and Africa, citing rising costs, fleet optimisation needs and a strategic shift toward higher-yield long-haul markets.
Industry observers note that while the airline’s long-haul expansion enhances its global profile, sustained profitability will depend on balancing capacity growth with operational efficiency and maintaining strong load factors on intercontinental routes.
More Read
The Casablanca–Los Angeles connection is expected to boost tourism, business travel and diaspora connectivity, particularly among Moroccan and broader African communities in the United States West Coast region.
For Morocco, the launch reinforces its ambition to position Casablanca as a major intercontinental aviation hub, complementing broader national strategies aimed at strengthening trade, tourism and international investment flows.
