This thread is all about Moroccan aviation news and/or pictures. Ill start by copying (from wiki) a small list of Moroccan Airlines:
The biggest and most known in the world is ofcourse Royal Air Maroc:
First days
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.
Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-700
Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-700
The jet age
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 began to be 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 to modernize the fleet. Boeing 757s were purchased in 1986 and eventually replaced the oldest 727s. The expansion of the 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. It operates code-share flights with Delta Air Lines.
The business plan of 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 2 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. 6 Boeing 737-400 were transferred to it with the aim of providing tourists with a direct route to Moroccan resort towns. In 2005, the company ordered 4 Boeing 787s to replace the leased 767s and expand North American, Middle Eastern, and African routes. It was announced in early 2006 that RAM had transported a record-breaking 4 million passengers in the previous fiscal year, the year 2005.
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 at the Mohammed V airport(began late 2005) will provide RAM with more growth opportunities.
Next to Royal Air Maroc there is Atlas Blue:
Atlas Blue is a low-cost airline based in Marrakech, Morocco. It is a subsidiary of Royal Air Maroc and operates charter and scheduled services to destinations in Europe. Its main base is Menara International Airport, Marrakech.
History
The airline was established on 28 May 2004 and started operations on 26 July 2004, with charter operations to France using a single Boeing 737-400. Another 5 Boeing 737-400s were transferred from Royal Air Maroc to expand services to Belgium, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom [2]. Atlas Blue is owned by Royal Air Maroc (99.99%) and private investors (0.01%) and has 167 employees.
Another superfast growing company is Jet4You:
The airline started operations on 26 February 2006. It is owned by TUI Group (40%), Attijariwafa Bank (20%), Investima-SGMB (20%) and MM.Marrache et Benabbes Taarji (20%). The shareholders have jointly established a Moroccan company, Societe d'Investissement Aerienne, the investment vehicle behind the airline.
The objective is to widen the network to other European countries and reach 1.5 million passengers by 2010, with a fleet of ten aircraft and a 395-strong team. On December 14, 2006 German tour operator TUI AG announced that all its airlines will be rebranded as TUIfly by 2008.
Trying to compete with Jet4you is another company called MondAir:
Mondair is an airline based in Agadir, Morocco, which operates charter services. It is wholly owned by Morrocan private investors. Mondair operates passenger charters from Agadir to Paris, as well as serving leisure destinations in Morocco, including Marrakech and Oujda.
A somewhat smaller Moroccan airlinecompany is Regional Air Lines:
Regional Air Lines is a private airline based in Casablanca, Morocco. It operates scheduled domestic services and scheduled regional flights to Spain and Portugal, as well as charter services for tour operators and corporate clients. Its main base is Mohammed V International Airport. The airline was established in 1996 and started operations in July 1997. It was the first privately owned airline in Morocco. It is owned by Atlanta Assurance (44.7%), Royal Marocaine d'Assurance (36%) and other smaller investors.
The biggest and most known in the world is ofcourse Royal Air Maroc:
First days
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.
Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-700
Royal Air Maroc Boeing 737-700
The jet age
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 began to be 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 to modernize the fleet. Boeing 757s were purchased in 1986 and eventually replaced the oldest 727s. The expansion of the 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. It operates code-share flights with Delta Air Lines.
The business plan of 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 2 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. 6 Boeing 737-400 were transferred to it with the aim of providing tourists with a direct route to Moroccan resort towns. In 2005, the company ordered 4 Boeing 787s to replace the leased 767s and expand North American, Middle Eastern, and African routes. It was announced in early 2006 that RAM had transported a record-breaking 4 million passengers in the previous fiscal year, the year 2005.
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 at the Mohammed V airport(began late 2005) will provide RAM with more growth opportunities.
Next to Royal Air Maroc there is Atlas Blue:
Atlas Blue is a low-cost airline based in Marrakech, Morocco. It is a subsidiary of Royal Air Maroc and operates charter and scheduled services to destinations in Europe. Its main base is Menara International Airport, Marrakech.
History
The airline was established on 28 May 2004 and started operations on 26 July 2004, with charter operations to France using a single Boeing 737-400. Another 5 Boeing 737-400s were transferred from Royal Air Maroc to expand services to Belgium, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom [2]. Atlas Blue is owned by Royal Air Maroc (99.99%) and private investors (0.01%) and has 167 employees.
Another superfast growing company is Jet4You:
The airline started operations on 26 February 2006. It is owned by TUI Group (40%), Attijariwafa Bank (20%), Investima-SGMB (20%) and MM.Marrache et Benabbes Taarji (20%). The shareholders have jointly established a Moroccan company, Societe d'Investissement Aerienne, the investment vehicle behind the airline.
The objective is to widen the network to other European countries and reach 1.5 million passengers by 2010, with a fleet of ten aircraft and a 395-strong team. On December 14, 2006 German tour operator TUI AG announced that all its airlines will be rebranded as TUIfly by 2008.
Trying to compete with Jet4you is another company called MondAir:
Mondair is an airline based in Agadir, Morocco, which operates charter services. It is wholly owned by Morrocan private investors. Mondair operates passenger charters from Agadir to Paris, as well as serving leisure destinations in Morocco, including Marrakech and Oujda.
A somewhat smaller Moroccan airlinecompany is Regional Air Lines:
Regional Air Lines is a private airline based in Casablanca, Morocco. It operates scheduled domestic services and scheduled regional flights to Spain and Portugal, as well as charter services for tour operators and corporate clients. Its main base is Mohammed V International Airport. The airline was established in 1996 and started operations in July 1997. It was the first privately owned airline in Morocco. It is owned by Atlanta Assurance (44.7%), Royal Marocaine d'Assurance (36%) and other smaller investors.