Royal Air Maroc's CEO on competing beyond low-cost carriers and expanding globally

Ya Biladi

15-06-2025

In a recent interview with CNN, the CEO of Morocco's national carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) highlighted the airline's strategic shift to differentiate itself from low-cost carriers and Gulf-based competitors.
«We have over 40 competitors in our country, so we had to create a new model and a new market», Abdelhamid Addou said, noting that RAM's strength lies in its south-north connections between Africa and Europe.
Asked about competing with giants like Ryanair and EasyJet, he said: «First, we are developing a different market, which is the African market, rather than just the point-to-point».
«When you put a first step in an airline like ours, you feel the atmosphere of the country, the culture… so you have a different experience», he explained, insisting that RAM offers a «completely different» product compared to low-cost airline companies.
Insightful interview of the CEO of @RAM_Maroc on @CNN, outlining the airline's bold ambitions. With growing demand for air connectivity, RAM is expanding across the South–North and South–West axes, especially in the #US and the #Americas offering passengers a unique flying… pic.twitter.com/5CQqQqXCwJ
— Youssef Amrani (@youamrani) June 14, 2025
On the long-haul front, the CEO pointed to growth toward the Americas: «North America, southern America. That's where we can have a real added value, bringing diasporas together… This is our added value. We are in the centre geographically, and we can capitalise on these diasporas to transport them».
He also confirmed plans to retrofit the airline's Boeing 737s with flat beds: «That will help us keep the same experience between the long haul and the short haul».
Addressing global supply chain delays, he admitted: «When you have 15 to 18 months late deliveries, then you get frustrated, but we are all facing the same issue». He remained optimistic: «We just received three MAXs (Boeing 737 MAX) this week. We should receive seven other MAXs by the end of December… We want to trust our partners».
For the record, RAM is reportedly preparing to place its largest aircraft order ever, purchasing around two dozen Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-haul routes and as many as 50 Boeing 737s for short-haul operations. It is also in talks to acquire about 20 Airbus A220s for regional travel.