For the first time in four years, a new airline is joining the Oneworld alliance. Morocco’s national carrier, Royal Air Maroc, announced on Wednesday afternoon that it’s joining the alliance, which includes American Airlines and British Airways. This addition will bring the total number of airlines in the Oneworld alliance to 14, also featuring major airlines like Cathay Pacific, Finnair, and Qantas.
By becoming a part of Oneworld, Royal Air Maroc will significantly enhance the alliance’s presence in Africa. While British Airways, Qatar Airways, and Royal Jordanian do offer flights to Africa, none of them have hubs on the continent. With Royal Air Maroc’s hub in Casablanca, the alliance will be adding 34 new destinations and opening up 21 new countries, though not all are in Africa.
This marks the first time Royal Air Maroc is joining a major airline alliance, at a time when many airlines prefer creating individual partnerships. For instance, Gulf carriers like Emirates and Etihad have selective codeshare and loyalty partnerships without joining a major alliance like Star Alliance or Oneworld. Aer Lingus, now part of British Airways’ parent company IAG, also chose not to join Oneworld.
Royal Air Maroc’s decision to join Oneworld is also notable because it will strengthen the alliance’s competitiveness against Star Alliance in Africa. Currently, Star Alliance boasts African hubs through EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, and South African Airways, giving it an edge over both Oneworld and Delta’s Skyteam.
Beyond Africa, Oneworld is making moves in Asia. Following American Airlines’ investment in China Southern, there has been speculation that the Chinese airline might leave Skyteam to join Oneworld.
By mid-2020, Royal Air Maroc should be fully integrated into Oneworld. This will allow passengers to connect internationally through Casablanca and within Africa via codeshare flights. Loyalty programs and points will eventually be integrated, enabling passengers to use American AAdvantage or British Airways Avios points on Royal Air Maroc flights. However, this integration might take some time.
Royal Air Maroc, the national airline of Morocco, carried 7.3 million passengers last year with an average of 245 daily flights. Its fleet consists of 55 aircraft, including Boeing 737-800s and Embraer 190s for short to medium-haul routes, and Boeing 767s and 787-8s for long-haul flights. The airline will also soon receive its first 787-900s. Its regional affiliate, Royal Air Maroc Express, operates five ATR 72s.
Under its five-year growth plan, Royal Air Maroc plans to expand its fleet and increase its network from 94 to 121 destinations. The airline will also boost frequencies in many established markets, aiming for at least daily flights on most short and medium-haul routes, and multiple flights on certain routes. Casablanca, its main hub, will soon move into a newly rebuilt, state-of-the-art Terminal 1, becoming a full-fledged transfer hub.
Most international routes offered by Royal Air Maroc come with a two-class system, Business and Economy, with the premium cabin featuring seats that convert to angled lie-flat beds.
The airline is heavily investing in its product and marketing, with plans for a new brand image, updated marketing content, cabin upgrades, and new uniforms. Over the past five years, its service improvements have earned it a four-star rating from Skytrax.
In 2017, Royal Air Maroc and its subsidiaries reported revenues of $1.7 billion and operating profits of $48.5 million, employing 5,413 people. The airline, 98 percent owned by the Moroccan state, celebrated its 60th anniversary this year.
Currently, Royal Air Maroc has codeshare agreements with Qatar Airways, Iberia, and S7 Airlines, and it’s expected to establish more partnerships with other Oneworld airlines as it prepares to join the alliance.