Royal Air Maroc has announced the temporary suspension of several international routes linking Morocco to Central Africa and several European cities, a direct consequence of the sharp rise in kerosene prices caused by the war in the Middle East.
In a statement relayed by the official MAP news agency, the company explained that it was forced to "temporarily adapt" its network in order to cope with the sharp increase in its operating costs. Like the entire global aviation sector, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is being hit hard by soaring aviation fuel prices amidst a backdrop of significant regional geopolitical tensions.
The company maintains, however, that this is not a structural reduction in its operations, but rather an adjustment intended to avoid operating routes that have become unprofitable. A regular reassessment of the suspended services will be conducted based on changes in kerosene prices and demand levels.
The affected routes primarily serve Central Africa and several medium-haul European destinations. From Casablanca, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is suspending flights to Bangui, Brazzaville, Kinshasa, Douala, Yaoundé, and Libreville.
In Europe, several routes operated from Marrakech and Tangier are also suspended, notably to Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Brussels, Barcelona, and Malaga. According to the airline, these routes are experiencing a slowdown in demand which, combined with rising fuel prices, jeopardizes their immediate profitability.
Royal Air Maroc states that it is implementing support measures for affected passengers, with re-routing or refund options depending on the situation. The airline specifies that it is monitoring the international situation "very closely" in order to gradually reinstate suspended routes as soon as operational and economic conditions allow.
Owned more than 98% by the Moroccan state, RAM nevertheless maintains its ambitious strategic development program, which plans to quadruple its fleet by 2037.
