Morocco’s Aviation Sector Key to Economic Growth

Marrakech – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasized the crucial role of Morocco’s aviation sector in driving economic growth and stressed the need for smart regulation and cost-effective infrastructure to unlock the full potential of the aviation industry in the Kingdom.

IATA highlighted several key points:

  • In 2023, over 12.4 million passengers traveled to Morocco by air, reflecting a 68% increase over the past decade.
  • The travel and tourism sector contributed USD 25.5 billion to the country’s GDP, accounting for 13.4% of Morocco’s economy.
  • In 2023, aviation supported the export of goods and services, contributing nearly 44% to Morocco’s GDP—a significant 20 percentage point increase over the past 63 years.
  • The aviation sector was projected to grow significantly over the next 20 years, with passenger numbers expected to increase by 50% by 2043 compared to 2024.
  • Aviation was set to play a critical role in the country’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
  • Royal Air Maroc planned to quadruple its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, while Morocco’s airport capacity was expected to double to accommodate more than 90 million passengers by 2035.

“Aviation is a major driver of Morocco’s economy, facilitating travel, trade, and economic development. The ambitious growth plans of both Royal Air Maroc and the National Airports Office (ONDA) presented a bright future for aviation in Morocco, with the potential to serve as a key link between Africa, Europe, and North America. Given this potential, it was essential for the government to focus on critical elements to support success. In particular, investments needed to yield cost-effective infrastructure, policies had to align to support the achievement of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the regulatory environment should enable growth based on global standards,” stated Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, during his speech in Marrakech.

Consumer Regulation

IATA underscored the importance of smart regulation for the aviation industry to thrive. Ineffective consumer legislation from Europe and the United States was not to be imported. Discussions with the Moroccan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and IATA on the development of a Passenger Rights Law were positively focused on creating a framework that reflected global best practices and industry standards.

Sustainability

Sustainability remained a top priority in Morocco’s aviation strategy. Royal Air Maroc expanded its International Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) program to include RAM Handling and RAM Express, with participation in IATA’s CO2 Connect nearing finalization. In December 2023, RAM operated its first flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), underscoring its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Morocco was uniquely positioned to become a significant producer of SAF by leveraging its renewable energy potential, including through green hydrogen, which was viewed as a key technology in the global effort to decarbonize air transport.

Infrastructure

Morocco embarked on an ambitious national masterplan to develop its airport infrastructure, designed to meet the anticipated growth of the aviation sector. IATA fully supported the development of sustainable infrastructure that was collaboratively planned with airlines, ensuring timely delivery, enhanced capacity, and competitive cost-effectiveness.

As passenger numbers were expected to rise significantly, new infrastructure would need to incorporate facilitation technologies such as IATA’s One ID and contactless processing. These advancements were aimed at optimizing terminal efficiency, enabling seamless passenger journeys, and improving the overall customer experience.