In a significant announcement made late Saturday into Sunday, Royal Air Maroc has temporarily suspended several international flights due to soaring jet fuel prices, specifically kerosene, which have escalated as a result of increasing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a decline in demand for certain flight routes. This decision underscores the airline's response to an exceptional rise in operational costs that has profoundly impacted the global aviation sector, prompting many airlines to reassess their flight schedules and temporarily adjust their capacity to mitigate further losses.
In light of these developments, Royal Air Maroc has identified specific routes that will experience temporary flight suspensions, including 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 within Royal Air Maroc, who requested anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the press, indicated that the tripling of international kerosene prices compared to pre-U.S.-Israel conflict levels with Iran has compelled the management to reevaluate the scheduling of several routes that are witnessing a drop in demand.
The source further elaborated in a conversation with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the rising production costs, exacerbated by the repercussions of the war, have led to the cessation of several routes that were incurring significant losses for the airline. Kerosene constitutes a crucial component of operational expenses for airlines, typically accounting for between 15% and 30% of total expenditures, with instances where these costs may even surpass the budget allocated for human resources within companies. While the surge in fuel prices has prompted numerous airlines to raise ticket prices, Royal Air Maroc has, thus far, refrained from adjusting its ticket pricing or modifying its pricing policy in accordance with international market fluctuations.
Moreover, Royal Air Maroc has assured that it will implement all necessary measures to support affected travelers during this suspension. The airline is closely monitoring international developments and intends to gradually resume these flights as soon as operational and economic conditions permit.
As reported by alaraby.co.uk.
