Royal Air Maroc Sets Its Sights on Becoming Africa’s Premier Aviation Connector

Royal Air Maroc’s Chief Executive Officer Abdelhamid Addou set out an ambitious vision for the airline’s continental role at the AFCAC Expo 2026 in Lomé, Togo, positioning the Moroccan national carrier as a driving force behind a more open and interconnected African airspace. The event, held from 15 to 19 June in the Togolese capital, is organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission in partnership with the African Union under the theme “One African Sky: Connectivity and Sustainable Development of Air Transport,” and aims to accelerate the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market.

Speaking during a panel discussion, Addou said African connectivity has become a strategic priority for Royal Air Maroc as part of a broader vision for a continent free from air transport barriers. The airline is expanding its network around its Casablanca hub to facilitate inter-African travel and support regional economic integration. Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, he noted, the airline has invested heavily in strengthening air links across Africa and is today among the principal carriers connecting African countries with Europe and the Americas.

Addou also identified the structural obstacles still constraining African aviation: regulatory barriers, high taxes and restrictions on traffic rights. He used the Lomé forum to press for harmonized regulatory frameworks and lower fiscal burdens, arguing that both are indispensable conditions for meaningful progress on continental connectivity.

The CEO underlined Royal Air Maroc’s specific role in advancing the goals of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), describing the airline as a key player in South-South cooperation and a significant driver of regional economic integration and trade.

Morocco’s delegation to AFCAC Expo 2026 was led by Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdessamad Kayouh.