Royal Air Maroc (AT, Casablanca Mohamed V) is preparing tenders for the acquisition of at least ten aircraft - including seven more narrowbodies and three widebodies - as its starts to implement its 2023-2027 growth programme that aims to quadruple the fleet over the next 15 years, according to Chief Executive Officer Abdelhamid Addou.
At a news conference in Casablanca on July 14, Addou revealed that a consultation had been launched to acquire ten new aircraft, including seven B737 MAX and three B787s, reported Moroccan news site Le360. "We are in the process of preparing a call for tenders which will be launched soon for the acquisition of new aircraft through various manufacturers, " he said, according to Le360.
He said depending on a return to financial stability (first profits expected from 2027), all the aircraft would be acquired through finance leases, thus offering RAM the possibility of becoming the owner at the end of the contract, thanks to the purchase option.
The airline was not immediately available for comment. RAM does not appear on the latest Boeing order book and has no outstanding aircraft orders at present, according to the ch-aviation fleets module.
The airline already operates two B737-8 MAX, five B787-8s, and four B787-9s, according to ch-aviation fleets data. The fleet currently numbers 60 aircraft, of which 48 are in active service. It comprises a mix of Airbus (two wet-leased A320-200s, two A330-200s, one wet-leased A340-300); six ATR72-600s; Boeing (two B737-8s, twenty-eight B737-800s, one B737-800(BBJ), one B747-400, one B747-8(BBJ), one B767-300ER(BCF), one wet-leased B767-300ER, five B787-8s, four B787-9s) and four ERJ 190-100ARs.
As reported, on July 11, RAM and the Moroccan government signed the airline's 2023-2027 development plan that will see the carrier grow its fleet to 200 aircraft in the next 15 years. The government will strengthen its capital participation in the majority-state-owned airline to support fleet expansion, competitiveness, digitisation, and service quality improvement. The agreement is under guidelines set by King Mohammed VI to enhance the air transport sector's contribution to economic and social development. It aims to support the kingdom's goal of attracting 65 million visitors by 2037.
