Royal Air Maroc has added a new Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to its fleet, bringing its total number of aircraft to 65 as it speeds up a major expansion plan.
The plane arrived at Mohammed V International Airport. The airline says the new jet is part of a wider government-backed plan to grow Morocco’s aviation and tourism sectors.
Officials say the aircraft has a new cabin layout and updated interior design. The airline is also working on making all its planes look and feel the same inside, as part of a wider effort to unify its brand.
Royal Air Maroc expects to have 74 planes by the end of 2026 and 88 by 2027. In the longer term, it plans to expand its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037.
The expansion is closely linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
The government wants to bring in 26 million tourists by 2030 and is positioning Casablanca as a major travel hub connecting Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Under a long-term deal signed in 2023, the airline plans to grow its fleet from around 50 aircraft to 200 by 2037. Passenger numbers are expected to rise from about seven million a year to 31.6 million. It also aims to expand its destinations from 80 to 143, including new long-haul routes to places like China, Brazil and the United States.
To support this growth, Morocco is investing $1.28 billion in a new terminal at Mohammed V Airport and building a new international airport in Marrakech designed to handle 14 million passengers a year.
Earlier this month, the airline received its first Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft leased from Aviation Capital Group. These planes will be used mainly for short and medium flights across Europe and Africa.
A new direct flight from Casablanca to Los Angeles is set to begin on 7 June 2026, using the 787 aircraft.
The airline has also restarted flights to Beijing and São Paulo after a five-year break, using larger Boeing 787-9 planes.
In January, Royal Air Maroc also agreed a deal with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise to lease 13 more Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with deliveries starting in 2027.
