Royal Air Maroc to issue 737 renewal RFP in 2023

Royal Air Maroc (AT, Casablanca Int’l) is preparing a request for proposals for the replacement of its existing B737 fleet in 2023, according to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Abdelhamid Addou.

The Moroccan national carrier currently has no outstanding aircraft orders, ch-aviation fleets advanced data confirms.

Its fleet of forty B737s, includes thirty-one B737-800s, six B737-700s, two B737-8s, and one B737-800(BBJ), according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module. Of these, 11 aircraft are inactive at present due to lower travel demand resulting from the pandemic. This includes all its B737-700s and one of the two B737-8s.

Both B737-8s were delivered ahead of the type’s global grounding in 2019. Royal Air Maroc was due to have taken a further two B737-8s, but later cancelled that order.

Speaking to International Flight Network (IFN) recently, Addou said it was not a fait accompli that the airline would pick the B737 MAX over competing Airbus A320N family aircraft. In fact, according to IFN, Addou said earlier that RAM has no current plans to order more B737 MAX.

The airline used to operate six A321-200s, the ch-aviation fleets history module reveals. It also wetleased in four A321-200s to boost capacity during Summer 2021 from SmartLynx Airlines (6Y, Riga) and SmartLynx Airlines Malta (LYX, Malta Int’l).

As reported, Addou in 2020 already announced a restructuring drive that would see the replacement of its six B737-700s and a single B737-800s. At the time, he mooted the disposal of 20 aircraft or 30% of the fleet.

IFN reported the airline had removed ten aircraft from its fleet during the pandemic, consisting of seven that were sold to cut costs and three where leasing contracts were not extended.