Morocco is the fastest-growing air travel market in Africa this year, and Royal Air Maroc is now one of the top five airlines on the continent, according to a new report.
The African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA) says Morocco will offer 22.5 million seats in 2026, up 21.8% from last year. That makes Morocco the third-largest market in Africa, behind Egypt (30.9 million) and South Africa (26.8 million), and ahead of Ethiopia (17 million) and Kenya (10.2 million).
Across Africa, airlines have scheduled 182.4 million seats in the first ten months of 2026, a 13.7% increase from 2025. The continent is also seeing more tourists, with international arrivals up 10% in 2025, double the global average.
Morocco’s growth is helped by a few key factors. The open skies deal with the EU has made it easier to add flights to Western Europe, Africa’s biggest source of tourists, with 44.2 million seats planned for 2026. Casablanca is also becoming an important hub for flights in Africa, especially as tensions rise in the Middle East, joining cities like Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and Johannesburg.
Tourism is driving much of the growth. The report says more tourists mean more flights, and Morocco is benefiting from this trend.
Royal Air Maroc is at the heart of this expansion. Investments in airports and modern planes have strengthened the airline’s routes to Europe, the Americas, and within Africa. RAM is now the fourth-largest airline in Africa, behind Ethiopian Airlines, EgyptAir, and Safair, but ahead of Air Algérie. The airline shows how Casablanca is becoming a major hub for both intercontinental and African flights.
However, the report also notes some challenges. High taxes, limited open skies across Africa, and tricky visa rules could slow growth. Airlines and the government will need to work together to keep the momentum going.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects African passenger numbers to grow 3.7% per year, reaching 345 million by 2043.
