Royal Air Maroc is preparing for a significant upgrade to its fleet, with plans underway to secure a large aircraft order from Boeing and a smaller, yet strategic, deal with Airbus. This development marks a potential turning point in the airline’s procurement strategy, long dominated by its reliance on Boeing.
The national carrier is reportedly close to finalizing an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of several jets, including the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner. These additions are intended to bolster Royal Air Maroc’s existing fleet, which has traditionally comprised almost exclusively Boeing aircraft.
Alongside this major order, the airline is in talks with Airbus for the acquisition of 20 A220 aircraft. Should the deal go through, it would be Royal Air Maroc’s first order from Airbus in nearly 25 years, opening the door for greater supplier diversification and signaling a subtle shift in the airline’s long-term fleet strategy.
Discussions over both deals have been ongoing for more than a year, driven by the airline’s goal to modernize its fleet and expand capacity in line with growing travel demand. While the Boeing deal reinforces Royal Air Maroc’s historic ties with the U.S. manufacturer, the Airbus order, though smaller, is seen as symbolically significant.
The potential entry of Airbus into Royal Air Maroc’s fleet comes at a time of improving relations between Morocco and France. These ties have grown stronger following France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the southern provinces in Western Sahara last year. The renewed cooperation has extended into various sectors, including aviation.
Industry observers have also pointed out that the timing of the fleet announcements may be tied to high-level diplomatic engagements. There is speculation that progress on the Boeing deal could coincide with a future meeting between Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and a senior U.S. official, which could further consolidate U.S.-Moroccan cooperation, especially on matters of territorial integrity.
On the domestic front, Morocco’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics confirmed that Royal Air Maroc aims to add 10 new aircraft by the end of this year, with another 10 scheduled for delivery in 2026. As of early June, the airline had already received five new aircraft, including three Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
These acquisitions form part of a broader long-term strategy launched in 2023 to grow the airline’s commercial fleet from 50 to 200 aircraft over the next 15 years. The fleet expansion is a critical component of Morocco’s national tourism roadmap, which targets 65 million tourist arrivals annually by 2037.
In 2024, Morocco marked a milestone by welcoming over 17.4 million tourists, a figure that reflects the country’s rising global profile and the need for enhanced air transport capacity. Royal Air Maroc’s planned fleet renewal is thus not only an operational upgrade but also a strategic investment in the future of Moroccan tourism and economic development.