In The Begining.
The company was founded in 1953 as Compagnie Cherifienne des Transports Aeriens (CCTA). Junkers Ju-52 tri-engine aircraft started local services but these aircraft were soon replaced by DC-3s and Lockheed Constellations. The name Royal Air Maroc was adopted after independence and the company began flying international routes in 1957 from its main base in Casablanca.The 60s - 70s
In 1960 RAM introduced its first jets: Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelles. These flew to European routes such as Paris and Madrid until the mid 1970s when they were phased out in favor of Boeing 727s. Simultaneously, Boeing 707s were being introduced for longer or higher capacity routes and Original Series 737s for smaller routes. By the end of the 1970s, Royal Air Maroc was flying to Europe, North America, the Middle East, and finally North Africa.The 1980s
RAM continued to expand in the 1980s. New routes were opened and routes expanded, frequencies were increased and new aircraft were introduced. Boeing 757s were purchased in 1986 and eventually replaced the oldest 727s. The expansion of Casablanca Mohammed V airport in 1984 provided the company with a more modern base.The 1990s
In the early days of the decade, the last of the 707s was removed from the fleet. Meanwhile, newer, more efficient, Classic 400 and 500 Series Boeing 737s were introduced to increase the frequency of European routes. By the middle of the decade all 727s had disappeared. To consolidate its North American operations, Royal Air Maroc purchased a single 747-400. As the decade progressed, new routes to previously under-served African airports were opened.2000-present
With the increasing number of passengers and newly opened routes as well as increasing oil prices, there was a need to buy new aircraft. In 2000 an order for 20 Next Generation Boeing 737 aircraft and 4 Airbus A321s was placed. Meanwhile more routes to west and central African cities were opened.RAM was now changing, from providing flights to meet the demands of foreign tourists and Moroccan expatriates, to providing connections between European cities and African cities via the Casablanca hub. In 2002, the company leased two 767s to replace the single 747 in North American routes and in 2004, the low-cost subsidiary, Atlas Blue, was set up with its main base in Marrakesh. Six Boeing 737-400s were transferred to it with the aim of providing tourists with a direct route to Moroccan resort towns. In 2005, the company ordered four Boeing 787s to replace the leased 767s and expand North American, Middle Eastern, and African routes. It was announced in May 2008 that RAM had transported a record-breaking 6.33 million passengers in the previous fiscal year, the year 2007.
In 2006 the airline banned staff from praying at their offices and in the corporate headquarters. The airline said that staff abused their prayer times. Islamist groups said that the airline was trying to stop religious freedom.
Royal Air Maroc is the first airline in Africa to operate the Boeing 787 and has the largest 737s fleet in Africa (42)
The future
In late 2005 an Open-Sky agreement was signed between Morocco and the EU. This means that Royal Air Maroc will have to face tough competition from low cost carriers eager to exploit profitable routes between Western Europe and Morocco. A further challenge arises from the high cost of kerosene and the fact that the company may have to drop some of its unprofitable domestic and international routes. The construction of a third terminal and runway began at Mohammed V airport in late 2005.Stakes and ownership
The Moroccan government owns 95.95% of the airline and Air France 2.86%. The government intends to partially privatise the airline through the sale of a 25% holding. Royal Air Maroc has 5,719 employees. Royal Air Maroc has a 99% holding in Atlas Blue and 51% in Air Senegal International.Base
RAM has its base at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) near Casablanca. The company operates short- , medium- and long-haul flights:- Short-haul flights are mainly national connections between the Moroccan airports and some flights to other North-African countries.
- Medium-haul flights are operated between several Moroccan airports and destinations in Europe, Central Africa and the Middle-East.
- Long-haul flights are the cross-Atlantic flights to Canada and the United States
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