When Royal Air Maroc unveiled its fall schedule on Tuesday, Transport and Logistics Minister Abdelssamad Kayouh declared the move a “clear turning point” for Morocco’s flag carrier.
The carrier will restart direct services from Marrakech‑Menara International Airport to four French cities – Lyon, Toulouse, Nantes and Bordeaux – beginning the week of 10 October 2025. After years of suspensions that stretched back to 2017 for the Nantes link, the twice‑weekly Boeing 737‑800 flights are slated to reconnect the Marrakech market with France, which historically supplies more than a quarter of all international arrivals to Morocco.
Why the French market matters
France remains Morocco’s largest European inbound market, accounting for roughly 27.5 % of all foreign visitors in the 2023‑2024 period, according to the Ministry of Tourism. The resurgence of French demand has prompted the airline to prioritize routes that feed both leisure tourists and business travelers heading to the coastal resorts of the Agadir‑Safi region.
“Our passengers value convenient, same‑day connections to major French hubs,” Kayouh said during a parliamentary session on 22 September 2025. “Re‑establishing these routes not only boosts tourism revenue, it also strengthens cultural and economic ties that have been strained by the pandemic.”
Details of the four revived routes
All four services will operate with the airline’s existing fleet of Boeing 737‑800s, a workhorse that seats up to 189 passengers in a mixed‑class configuration. The schedule is designed to suit both weekend vacationers and mid‑week business trips.
- Lyon: Flights launch on 10 October 2025, departing Marrakech at 15:20 and arriving in Lyon at 19:20, with a return at 20:20 arriving back at 22:25. The route runs Mondays and Fridays, mirroring the pre‑COVID timetable that ended in October 2022.
- Toulouse: Same day as Lyon, the Marrakech‑Toulouse leg leaves at 08:15, touches down at 11:45, and returns at 12:45 for a 14:20 arrival. Mondays and Fridays are again the operating days.
- Nantes: Beginning 11 October 2025, the service runs Wednesdays and Saturdays. An early 08:15 departure lands at 12:05, with the return leaving Nantes at 13:05 and touching down in Marrakech at 15:00.
- Bordeaux: The Thursday‑Sunday schedule starts on 12 October 2025, with a 17:10 departure arriving at 20:40, and a return flight at 21:40 reaching Marrakech at 23:20.
Each route will feature a modest fare structure aimed at attracting price‑sensitive travelers, while still offering a Business class seat for premium clientele.
Other network upgrades
Beyond the French expansion, RAM is tightening its existing Morocco‑France links. From 27 October 2025, the Marrakech‑Marseille corridor will see a jump from two to three weekly flights, employing both Boeing 737‑800s and Embraer E190s to match demand peaks.
Meanwhile, the heavily trafficked Marrakech‑Paris Charles de Gaulle line will grow from three to seven weekly flights between 16 December 2025 and 18 January 2026, a seasonal boost that aligns with holiday travel spikes.
Domestically, the airline is reviving routes that have lain dormant for years. Service to Dakhla restarts on 13 October 2025, twice weekly with an Embraer E190, while Marrakech‑Laayoune resumes on 10 October 2025, also twice weekly. Both routes were suspended for a decade‑plus, the Laayoune link having ended in September 2020.
Fleet growth and long‑term ambitions
To support the enlarged schedule, RAM has taken delivery of five Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, raising its MAX fleet to seven. Combined with the existing 28 Boeing 737‑800s, the airline now operates roughly 50 aircraft.
The carrier’s 2024 financial statements showed near‑record performance: revenue of nearly 20 billion dirhams and a clearance of more than 935 million dirhams in tax debt. For the summer of 2025, RAM offered a record 6.6 million seats – an increase of 700,000 compared with the previous year – and now serves 95 destinations worldwide.
Management’s roadmap aims to quadruple the fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, targeting an annual passenger volume of over 32 million, up from the current 7.5 million. Such growth would position the airline among the top ten carriers on the African continent.
Government backing and industry reaction
Kayouh emphasized that the state’s backing is “strategic, not merely financial.” The ministry has pledged additional airport slots and streamlined regulatory approvals to keep the rollout on schedule. Industry analysts see the move as a signal that Morocco is betting on tourism as a pillar of post‑pandemic recovery.
“The French market is a low‑hanging fruit, but the real test will be how RAM leverages its new aircraft to open secondary cities in Europe and Africa,” noted aviation consultant Sofia Benchekroun of AeroInsights. “If they can maintain load factors above 80 % on these routes, the financial upside could be substantial.”
What this means for travelers
For Moroccans heading north, the new schedule offers more convenient departure times and a direct option that previously required a layover in Casablanca. French tourists, in turn, gain a shorter hop to the historic medina of Marrakech, with evening arrivals that line up nicely with hotel check‑in times.
Environmental groups have welcomed the use of newer, fuel‑efficient MAX aircraft, noting a potential 15 % reduction in CO₂ emissions per seat kilometer compared with older 737‑800s. RAM has pledged to continue its “Green Skies” initiative, aiming for carbon‑neutral operations by 2050.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the new Marrakech‑France flights start?
The Lyon and Toulouse services begin on 10 October 2025, Nantes on 11 October, and Bordeaux on 12 October, each operating twice weekly.
Which aircraft will operate the revived routes?
All four French connections will be flown with Boeing 737‑800 jets, the same type used on most of RAM’s medium‑haul network.
How does the expansion affect ticket prices?
RAM aims to keep fares competitive, introducing introductory prices that sit slightly below the average market rate for similar routes, while still offering a Business class option.
What is the broader strategy behind RAM’s growth?
The airline is leveraging a refreshed fleet and government support to enlarge its European footprint, increase domestic connectivity, and ultimately grow its passenger base to over 32 million by 2037.
Are there environmental benefits to the new fleet?
The addition of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft promises roughly a 15 % cut in CO₂ emissions per seat kilometer, aligning with RAM’s goal of carbon‑neutral operations by 2050.
Wesley Nakamatsu
October 6, 2025 AT 01:32Royal Air Maroc's decision to revive the Marrakech‑France corridor is a testament to strategic acumen, reflecting a sophisticated understanding of trans‑Euro‑African market dynamics. The airline astutely capitalises on France's status as Morocco's premier inbound source, thereby reinforcing bilateral economic ties. Moreover, the deployment of Boeing 737‑800s indicates a prudent utilisation of proven assets, ensuring operational reliability. Such moves undeniably elevate the carrier's standing within the global aviation hierarchy.