Royal Air Maroc eyes Airbus deal in bid to quadruple fleet

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is preparing to announce a partnership with Airbus, according to Morocco World News, marking the European planemaker’s first deal with the Moroccan national carrier. The agreement, expected in the coming weeks, would end RAM’s long reliance on Boeing and ATR, as the airline seeks to expand its fleet from 60 to 200 aircraft by 2037.

The fleet overhaul is central to Morocco’s broader push to accommodate rising tourism and upgrade infrastructure ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it will co-host. The airline's expansion plan, launched in April 2024, follows record tourist arrivals—17.4 million in 2024 alone.

Talks have been slowed by unresolved disputes over traffic rights and landing slots at French airports. Meanwhile, Airbus has deepened its industrial presence in Morocco, recently acquiring Spirit AeroSystems’ Casablanca plant. The deal underscores warming Franco-Moroccan ties, which had cooled in recent years amid diplomatic tensions.