Royal Air Maroc is inducting more Boeing MAX 8s into the fleet next year. Lessor Air Lease Corporation (ALC) said on Wednesday that it has placed four MAX 8s and one 737-800 on long-term leases with RAM. Royal Air Maroc adds four MAX 8s to its growing fleet.
The airline currently operates just two MAX 8s that were ordered in 2013 and were both delivered just before the grounding of the type in March 2019. Boeing data show no further MAX orders, but in 2019 there were reports that the airline had canceled the delivery of two MAX aircraft. This was later denied by RAM.
On its website, Royal Air Maroc says its fleet comprises of thirty Boeing 737-800s, two MAX 8s, four Embraer E190s, five Boeing 787-8s, four -9s, one 737-300F, and six ATR 72-600s. Oneworld member RAM and Kenya Airways announced in December that they would reinstate their partnership that was interrupted in 2019.
Development plan
Recent media reports in Morocco said that the airline is negotiating with Boeing for an order of an additional seven MAX and three 787s, as part of its interim and long-term strategy to grow the fleet. RAM announced a government-backed “visionary development plan” in July that will see it quadruple in size from the current fifty aircraft to 200 aircraft by 2038. Passenger numbers should grow from 7.3 million to 31.6 million in the next fifteen years as Morocco targets to attract 67 visitors. The addition of the four MAX, two 787-8s, two 787-9s, and two Embraer E190s is part of the interim plan.
“Through this agreement with esteemed partners as ALC, Royal Air Maroc will receive additional aircraft that will strengthen and modernize our operational fleet, enabling us to consistently enhance the quality of service for our customers, while also reducing our carbon footprint in line with our environmental commitment,” said CEO Abdelhamid Addou in a media statement.
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
In 2022, he has gone full-time freelance. Richard has been contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He is also writing for Airliner World and Aviation News and until July 1 2023 in a part-time role with Dutch website and magazine Luchtvaartnieuws. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
