Temporary Suspension of Flights by Royal Air Maroc
On Saturday, Royal Air Maroc announced a temporary suspension of several flights to European and African destinations, attributing this decision to soaring fuel prices as a consequence of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. The airline, as reported by Moroccan news agency, stated that it was "compelled" to implement measures to adapt its international network, resulting in the temporary halting of air services on various routes.
This decision arises in the context of a significant increase in kerosene prices, which is a direct result of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, alongside a slowdown in demand for some routes. The impacted flights include connections from Marrakech to Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Brussels, as well as services linking Casablanca to various African airports in Bangui, Brazzaville, Kinshasa, Douala, Yaoundé, and Libreville. Additionally, routes connecting Tangier to Barcelona and Malaga have also been suspended.
The escalation of the U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran, which began on February 28, coupled with Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has led to a sharp increase in aviation fuel prices. This surge has raised concerns regarding the profitability of airlines and contributed to an uptick in ticket prices. Royal Air Maroc expressed its commitment to gradually resume these routes as soon as operational and economic conditions allow.
The airline, which is over 98% state-owned, launched an ambitious program in 2023 aimed at increasing its fleet from the current 50 aircraft to 200 by the year 2037, highlighting its long-term growth strategy amidst challenging circumstances.
As reported by alarabiya.net.
