africanflyer

Royal Air Maroc has signed an agreement with ATR for the purchase of four ATR 72-600s and two ATR 42-600s. The airline will lease four ATR 72-200s while it awaits delivery of the purchased aircraft in 2011.

The government of Senegal and Royal Air Maroc have agreed to create a new airline and to put an end to the dispute related to Air Senegal International. The new airline will be set up with RAM only providing technical, commercial and operational assistance.

Air Sénégal ceased operations due to an ongoing row between Senegal and the majority shareholder Royal Air Maroc.

Royal Air Maroc’s CEO is quoted in press reports stating that the airline will place an order for six aircraft by the end of this month.

Royal Air Maroc took delivery of a brand new B738 from Boeing last Friday.

Flight Global reports that Royal Air Maroc is looking to acquire eight turboprops to be used by a regional airline it intends to launch in March 2009.

Royal Air Maroc will begin new service between its base in Casablanca, Morocco and Kinshasa, DRC. Flights will operate 2 per week on Thursdays and Saturdays using B738 aircraft.

AT289 CMN - DLA: 1650 - 2300
AT289 DLA - FIH: 0010 - 200
AT288 FIH - DLA: 255 - 455
AT288 DLA - CMN: 555 - 955

Royal Air Maroc took delivery of a B738 this week. Two other similar aircraft will be delivered before year’s end.

Sénégal’s government will retake control of its flag carrier Air Sénégal International in a move that will see it holding 75% of the company, while Royal Air Maroc will retain 25%. Since 2001, the government held 49% while RAM held the rest.

Royal Air Maroc took delivery of a B738 on Friday, bringing its fleet size to 41. The airline is also expected to take another similar aircraft, as we as an A321 in 2007.

Following the end of hostilities in Lebanon, air links between its capital city Beirut and African cities are being reopened as follows:
- Cairo, Egypt: EgyptAir will resume services on Friday September 8 with a 4x per week frequency with flights operated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Middle East Airlines will operate daily few flights per week until the resumption of daily services on September 15
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Ethiopian Airlines will resume services on September 12 with a 2x per week frequency. Flights will be operated out of Addis on Mondays and Wednesdays
- Casablanca, Morocco: Royal Air Maroc will resume services on September 10 with a 2x per week frequency. Flights will be operated out of Casablanca on Sundays and Thursdays.
- Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Lagos, Nigeria; Kano, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana: Middle East Airlines will resume services to these cities as of September 8, with frequencies eventually becoming 3x per week to Abidjan, Lagos and Accra; and Kano receiving a single weekly flight.

Royal Air Maroc is set to buy a majority stake in Mauritania’s flag carrier, Air Mauritanie. The deal to purchase 51% of the fully state owned airline is set to be finalized over the coming weeks.

Royal Air Maroc already owns parts of Air Sénégal International and Air Gabon International.

Royal Air Maroc will begin service between its base in Casablanca and Accra, Ghana as of November. Flights will be operated twice per week on Mondays and Fridays via Abidjan using B738 aircraft.

AT515 CMN - ABJ: 2300 - 325
AT515 ABJ - ACC: 415 - 515
AT514 ACC - CMN: 610 - 1035

Royal Air Maroc has received a B738 which joins ten other similar aircraft in its fleet. The airline also operates B736s and B73Gs.

Royal Air Maroc will increase service to the following African destinations effective the end of June:
- Abidjan: goes from current 6x per week to daily
- Bamako: goes from 6x per week to daily
- Libreville: goes from 3x per week to 4x per week
- Nouackchott: goes from 5x per week to daily

All flights will maintain their existing schedules.

Royal Air Maroc will gradually increase its frequency between Casablanca and Montreal from the current 5x per week to 10x per week from mid April through June. While the seven flights will maintain the existing schedule, the other three will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays as follows using B763s:

AT208 CMN - YUL: 1130 - 1505
AT209 YUL - CMN: 2205 - 910

Royal Air Maroc will increase its frequency between Casablanca and New York from the current 5x per week to 8x per week effective the end of May, then to 9x per week effective the end of June, running until the end of the summer season. While seven flights per week will follow the existing schedule, the 8th and 9th will be operated on Tuesdays and Thursdays as follows using B763s:

AT202 CMN - JFK: 1450 - 1900
AT203 JFK - CMN: 2300 - 1000

Air Gabon International, setup as a joint venture between Royal Air Maroc and the government of Gabon, is to start services in the second quarter of 2006. Routes that are being considered include France, Morocco, South Africa, Malawi, Congo Brazzaville and Angola utilizing two aircraft.

Royal Air Maroc has been selected by the government of Gabon to become the strategic airline partner of the country’s flag carrier, Air Gabon. Under the agreement, Royal Air Maroc will hold 51% of the airline, while the government will maintain 49%.

Royal Air Maroc is also holding talks with the government of Mauritania to take a stake in that country’s airline, Air Mauritanie.

Royal Air Maroc is reportedly looking at serving two new destinations in Africa. Flights to Accra, Ghana and Brazaville, Congo are being explored for the 2007-2008 year.

Royal Air Maroc’s new winter schedule which is set to begin on October 30, sees the following changes, which are frequency changes to existing schedules:

- Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire will be served daily from the current 6x per week
- Amsterdam, Netherlands will see an increase from 6x per week to daily
- Barcelona, Spain will see an increase from 5x per week to 6x per week
- Bordeaux, France will see an increase from 5x per week to daily
- Conakry, Guinea will see an increase from 3x to 4x per week
- Douala, Cameroun will see an increase from 2x to 3x per week
- Libreville, Gabon will see a decrease from 4x to 3x per week
- Marseille, France will see an increase from 10x per week to 2x per day
- Milan Malpensa, Italy will see an increase from 8x to 13x per week
- Montreal, Canada will see an increase from 3x to 4x per week
- Nouakchott, Mauritania will see an increase from 4x to 5x per week
- Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso will see an increase from 2x to 3x per week
- Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will see an increase from 2x to 3x per week
- Rome, Italy will see an increase from 3x to up to daily
- Strasbourg, France will see an increase from 2x to 4x per week

Royal Air Maroc is returning to Beirut, Lebanon after an absence of about 20 years. Flights between Casablanca and Beirut will be operated nonstop 2x per week on Thursdays and Sundays.

AT276 CMN - BEY: 0800 - 1505
AT277 BEY - CMN: 1605 - 1955

Citing increased demand for the route, Royal Air Maroc will introduce a second daily flight between Casablanca, Morocco and Dakar, Senegal effective October 30. Fligths will be operated using a mix of B73Gs and B738s.

AT503 CMN - DKR: 1920 - 2250
AT 502 DKR - CMN: 330 - 645

AT501 CMN - DKR: 2300 - 230
AT 500 DKR - CMN: 745 - 1100

Royal Air Maroc has signed an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of up to 5 B787s.

Royal Air Maroc is reportedly in exclusive talks with Boeing to purchase up to five 787s following Airbus’ withdrawal from a bid citing ‘terms that are not sufficiently clear’.