Royal Air Maroc has announced a temporary suspension of several international flights due to soaring jet fuel prices, attributed to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a decline in demand for certain airline routes. This decision reflects the airline's response to the exceptional increase in operational costs that have significantly impacted the global aviation sector, prompting many airlines to reassess their flight schedules and temporarily adjust their capacity to avoid further losses.
In a recent statement, Royal Air Maroc specified the routes affected by this suspension, including flights from Casablanca to Bangui, Brazzaville, Kinshasa, Douala, Yaoundé, Libreville, as well as from Tangier to Malaga, Barcelona, and from Marrakech to Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, and Brussels.
A source within Royal Air Maroc, who preferred to remain anonymous as they were not authorized to speak to the press, indicated that the skyrocketing cost of jet fuel, which has tripled in the international market compared to pre-American-Israeli conflict levels concerning Iran, compelled the airline's management to reconsider the scheduling of various flights and destinations with declining demand.
This source elaborated that the rising production costs, exacerbated by the war's ramifications, have led to the cessation of routes that have been incurring significant losses for the airline. Notably, jet fuel constitutes a vital component of airlines' operational expenses, usually accounting for between 15% and 30% of total expenditures, and in some instances, these costs can exceed the budget allocated for human resources within the companies.
While the increase in jet fuel prices has led several airlines to raise ticket prices, Royal Air Maroc has, so far, refrained from adjusting its ticket prices or revising its pricing policy in line with international market developments. Furthermore, the airline has assured that it will take all necessary measures to support affected passengers during this suspension. The airline is closely monitoring international developments and plans to gradually resume these routes as soon as operational and economic conditions permit.
As reported by alaraby.co.uk.
