Air Travel: Morocco’s RAM Suspends Strategic Routes to Europe and Central Africa

The skies are darkening for Morocco’s national carrier. Facing a surge in fuel costs exacerbated by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has announced the provisional suspension of several African and European routes, according to a statement released on Saturday, May 23.

The cuts affect several flights departing from Marrakech to Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Brussels. But it is Central Africa that will be most impacted, with the interruption of strategic routes connecting Casablanca to Bangui, Brazzaville, Kinshasa, Douala, Yaoundé, and Libreville. Two routes operated from Tangier to Barcelona and Malaga are also suspended.

In its statement, the management of the national carrier justified the decision by citing « the sharp rise in kerosene prices, a direct consequence of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, » also mentioning « a slowdown in demand on certain routes. »

A Revealing Sector-Wide Vulnerability

Beyond the case of Royal Air Maroc, this decision acts as a revealer of the persistent fragilities in the global airline industry. Three months of military tensions around Iran have been enough to upend airlines’ economic equation: a sharp rise in fuel prices, logistical disruptions, flight cancellations, and a marked increase in fares.

According to the latest data released by industry players, kerosene, which historically represented about a quarter of carriers’ costs, would now account for up to 45% of operational expenses.

Little Room to Maneuver

Faced with this exogenous shock, airlines have few levers left: cancel routes deemed insufficiently profitable, pass on costs via fuel surcharges, or rely on hedging mechanisms where they exist.

For Africa, the stakes go beyond just the case of RAM. On a continent where air connections remain limited and costly, the suspension of regional routes is a reminder of just how fragile airline profitability remains, particularly in the face of global geopolitical shocks. This is a paradox, even as several African carriers harbor vast expansion ambitions, like Royal Air Maroc, which aims for a fleet of 200 aircraft by 2037.

Air Algérie Takes Advantage
Air Algérie is planning an exceptional schedule for summer 2026 to allow Algerians living abroad to travel in optimal conditions. The airline will add 560 flights to its international network, including 80 domestic flights.

Key Measures:

• Increased service to France (including Nantes and Strasbourg, taken over from Tassili Airlines), as well as to Europe (Rotterdam, Manchester).
• Increased flights to Montreal (up to 12 flights per week between June and September), taking advantage of Air Canada’s withdrawal.
• Arrival of new aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8 (starting in July), Airbus A330neo (5th aircraft in May, 6th to follow), and the chartering of 5 Airbus A320s from Avion Express.

The goal is to meet the strong demand, particularly from Algerian communities living abroad, and to spare travelers inconvenient layovers.

Article based on a news report relayed by Forbes Africa.

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