Royal Air Maroc announced a temporary suspension of several international flights late Saturday into Sunday, attributing this decision to the soaring prices of jet fuel, specifically kerosene, which have been exacerbated by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a decline in demand for certain routes.
In an official statement, the airline linked the flight suspensions to the extraordinary rise in operational costs that has significantly impacted the global aviation sector. This increase has compelled numerous airlines to reassess their flight schedules and temporarily adjust their capacity to mitigate further losses.
The affected routes include Casablanca to Bangui, Casablanca to Brazzaville, Casablanca to Kinshasa, Casablanca to Douala, Casablanca to Yaoundé, Casablanca to Libreville, Tangier to Malaga, Tangier to Barcelona, Marrakech to Lyon, Marrakech to Bordeaux, Marrakech to Marseille, and Marrakech to Brussels.
A source from Royal Air Maroc, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to the press, revealed that the tripling of kerosene prices in the international market, compared to pre-Iranian-American-Israeli conflict levels, has forced the airline's management to reevaluate several routes and destinations where demand has dropped significantly.
The source explained to "Al-Araby Al-Jadeed" that increased production costs due to the war's repercussions have halted several routes that were incurring substantial losses for the company. Kerosene typically constitutes between 15 and 30 percent of an airline's total operating expenses, and in some instances, these costs can even surpass the budget allocated for human resources.
While the rise in jet fuel prices has led many airlines to increase ticket prices, Royal Air Maroc has not yet resorted to raising its fares or revising its pricing policy in alignment with international market trends.
Furthermore, Royal Air Maroc has assured that it will take all necessary measures to support passengers affected by this suspension. The airline is closely monitoring international developments and will gradually resume these routes as soon as operational and economic conditions allow.
As reported by alaraby.co.uk.
