Royal Air Maroc has expanded its fleet to 70 aircraft as Morocco pushes ahead with plans to strengthen tourism and develop Casablanca into a major international aviation hub.
The airline marked the arrival of a Boeing 737 MAX 8, registered CN-RHS, as its 70th aircraft on September 28.
The milestone comes as Morocco pursues a much larger expansion programme that aims to increase Royal Air Maroc’s fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037.
Royal Air Maroc fleet reaches 70 aircraft
Royal Air Maroc celebrated the latest addition on its social media channels, highlighting the Boeing 737 MAX 8 as aircraft number 70.
Business Insider Africa reported that the expansion forms part of a government-backed development programme covering the period from 2023 to 2037.
Under the programme, Royal Air Maroc aims to operate 200 aircraft and carry 31.6 million passengers annually.
However, the latest aircraft should not be confused with deliveries under the airline’s wider long-term procurement programme.
Reuters reported in November 2025 that aircraft deliveries under a major expansion tender were expected to begin from 2028. Leased aircraft were expected to help increase capacity before then.
Tourism drives Morocco aviation expansion
The expansion comes as Morocco records strong growth in international tourism.
The country welcomed 19.8 million tourists in 2025, according to Morocco’s tourism ministry. That represented a 14% increase from the previous year.
Morocco is targeting 26 million visitors by 2030, when it is due to co-host the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Tourism also plays an important role in the Moroccan economy. According to the OECD’s 2026 country review, the sector directly accounted for 7.3% of the country’s GDP in 2024.
A larger Royal Air Maroc fleet could provide additional capacity as Morocco seeks to accommodate more international visitors and strengthen connections with other markets.
Morocco plans major airport expansion
Aircraft are only one part of Morocco’s aviation strategy.
The country also plans to increase its airport passenger capacity from around 30 million to 80 million passengers by 2030.
The Airports 2030 strategy includes investment in terminals and other infrastructure as Morocco prepares for the World Cup and Royal Air Maroc expands its operations.
Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport is expected to play a central role in the strategy.
Morocco wants the airport to strengthen its position as an international hub connecting Africa with Europe and other regions.
For African passengers, greater capacity in Casablanca could eventually provide more connecting options. However, the practical impact will depend on the routes, frequencies and fares Royal Air Maroc introduces as its fleet grows.
Morocco targets 200 aircraft by 2037
Reaching 70 aircraft represents another step towards Royal Air Maroc’s much larger 2037 target.
The airline will need to almost triple its current fleet to reach 200 aircraft.
At the same time, Morocco is expanding airport infrastructure and preparing for further tourism growth ahead of 2030.
The scale of those plans shows how aviation is becoming increasingly important to the country’s tourism and international connectivity ambitions.