CEO of Royal Air Maroc Hamid Addou has publicly criticized Boeing for chronic delivery delays even as the carrier is negotiating a massive 74-aircraft order,highlighting tensions in the airline’s ambitious expansion plans worth $25 billion through 2037.
In an interview with CNN,Addou expressed frustration over Boeing’s delivery performance,with some orders running 15-18 months behind schedule. “This compromises our modernization and expansion objectives,though I feel things are finally moving in the right direction,” the executive stated.
Despite setbacks,RAM recently received three Boeing 737-MAX aircraft and expects seven more by December 2025,some featuring lie-flat business class seats as the airline repositions toward premium segments.
According to exclusive reports from Reuters and Bloomberg,RAM is finalizing a deal for up to 74 new aircraft comprising 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-haul routes,50 Boeing 737s for short-haul operations,and potentially 20 Airbus A220s for regional services. Discussions with Airbus and Embraer continue as part of the carrier’s strategy to expand its fleet from 50 to 200 aircraft by 2037.
This expansion aligns with Morocco’s 2023-2037 program agreement signed with Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch,targeting 65 million annual passengers and establishing Morocco as an essential aviation hub connecting Africa,Europe,and the Americas.
The Airbus component might be unveiled at the Paris Air Show,with Boeing’s finalization following political and commercial negotiations.
The fleet modernization supports Morocco’s preparation for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal while capitalizing on geopolitical shifts. The Ukraine conflict’s closure of European-Russian air routes has positioned Morocco as a crucial transit hub for Moscow’s global connections.
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