Airbus deepens industrial presence in Morocco with new investments

Airbus is entering a new phase of its partnership with Morocco,reinforcing its long-standing presence through expanded industrial operations,strategic acquisitions,and the opening of a new representative office in Rabat.

The European aerospace giant is now positioning Morocco as a central hub in its global development strategy.

“The Kingdom is far more than a market for Airbus. It’s a strategic partner,” said Gabriel Semelas,President of Airbus Africa and Middle East,in a statement to Le360.

“We are strengthening our industrial capabilities and partnerships,capitalizing on Moroccan talent and the vision of His Majesty. Morocco is a pillar of our global growth and the future of aviation.”

The acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems’ site in Nouaceur,announced in April,marks a significant milestone. This facility,which specializes in critical components such as wing leading edges for the A220 and spars for the A321,joins two existing Airbus Atlantic factories in the region. Together,they form a growing industrial cluster that already supports over 1,000 direct and nearly 10,000 indirect jobs.

Airbus Helicopters is also expanding its footprint,developing a customer support center in Morocco with plans to transform it into a regional hub for maintenance,repair,and overhaul (MRO) services in West Africa. A training center equipped with simulators is also in the pipeline.

The opening of a representative office in Rabat underscores the strategic depth of the Airbus-Morocco relationship. “This institutional presence was a natural step,” said Mickaël Bertrand,Airbus Country Representative for Morocco. “Airbus plays a central role in Morocco’s aerospace ecosystem,and we must be close to our partners.”

Representing nearly 70% of the local aerospace sector,Airbus collaborates closely with key institutions such as the Institut des Métiers de l’Aéronautique (IMA) and the Institut Spécialisé des Métiers de l’Aéronautique et de la Logistique Aéroportuaire (ISMALA),as well as the Groupement des Industries Marocaines Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIMAS).

Airbus works with over 100 Moroccan suppliers,a testament to the maturity and competitiveness of the local aerospace sector. The company cites several reasons for its strategic choice of Morocco: a stable and trusted relationship built over seven decades,a skilled workforce,and a favorable business environment.

With plans to double passenger traffic to 60 million by 2030 and reach 95 million by 2035,the sector is booming. Royal Air Maroc is set to acquire 200 new aircraft,and Casablanca’s Mohammed V Airport will triple its capacity to 35 million passengers by 2029.

With the aviation sector contributing 8% to GDP and growing 68% over the past decade,Morocco’s dynamism is clear. Airbus’s deepening presence- through industrial expansion,job creation,and knowledge transfer- cements the Kingdom’s role as a strategic anchor in the company’s global operations.