Royal Air Maroc's Temporary Suspension of Flights
Royal Air Maroc, the national airline of Morocco, has announced a temporary suspension of several of its flight routes to Europe and Central Africa. This decision comes in response to the significant increase in kerosene prices, largely attributed to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. The announcement was made on May 23, 2026, indicating the airline's struggles with the rising costs of fuel, which have nearly doubled in just a month.
The affected routes include flights to Douala and Yaoundé in Cameroon, as well as Libreville in Gabon, which will remain suspended until June 9. Flights to Bangui in the Central African Republic are halted until June 17, while those to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Brazzaville in Congo are expected to resume by June 30. Although Royal Air Maroc has not provided specific dates for the implementation of these suspensions, internal sources suggest that the changes took effect on May 24.
Impact of Rising Fuel Prices on Airline Operations
According to Royal Air Maroc, this suspension is a direct consequence of the "geopolitical tensions in the Middle East" and the "sharp rise in kerosene prices." This disruption in service highlights the airline's vulnerability to fluctuations in fuel costs, which have a significant impact on operational expenses and ticket pricing. Furthermore, the airline cited a slowdown in demand for certain routes as another factor influencing their decision. Didier Brechemier, an aviation expert, noted that the sensitivity to price changes in Central Africa has led to a decrease in passenger demand, prompting the airline to suspend these services.
Royal Air Maroc has expressed its commitment to reinstating these routes as soon as operational and economic conditions allow. However, the timeline for resuming services is heavily dependent on the resolution of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the reopening of critical shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz. Recent developments in negotiations between Tehran and Washington may influence these conditions, but experts warn that a quick resolution is unlikely.
As reported by rfi.fr.
