If you’ve ever sat in the Casablanca airport watching those white and red tails taxi past, you’ve probably noticed something. The Royal Air Maroc fleet feels like a bit of a jigsaw puzzle right now. One minute you’re looking at a shiny new Dreamliner, and the next, a weathered 737-800 from the early 2000s hums by. Honestly, it’s a fleet in the middle of a massive identity crisis—but the good kind.
The airline is currently in the "growing pains" phase of a plan so ambitious it sounds almost fake. They want to quadruple their size by 2037. Basically, they're trying to turn Casablanca (CMN) into the African version of Dubai or Istanbul. It’s a tall order. To do it, they need planes. Lots of them.
The Current Backbone: What You’ll Actually Fly
Right now, the Royal Air Maroc fleet is a Boeing-heavy family. If you're flying short-haul to Europe or around West Africa, you are almost certainly getting on a Boeing 737. They have about 28 of the 737-800 models. These are the workhorses. They aren't fancy, but they get the job done.
Then you have the newer 737 MAX 8. These are the ones people keep an eye on. RAM has been aggressively leasing these to bridge the gap until their massive "200 aircraft" order starts arriving in 2028. You’ll see them popping up on routes to London, Paris, and even some longer African hops. They usually seat 156 people—12 in Business and 144 in Economy. It’s a standard setup, nothing to write home about, but the "Sky Interior" lighting does make the cabin feel less like a tin can.
The Long-Haul Stars
For the big trips—Casablanca to New York, Miami, or the new 2026 Los Angeles route—the Dreamliner is the king.
💡 You might also like: Super 8 Fort Myers Florida: What to Honestly Expect Before You Book
- 787-8: They have five of these. They’re the "smaller" Dreamliners, seating about 274 people.
- 787-9: These are the big siblings. They hold 302 to 320 passengers depending on the configuration.
You’ve gotta be careful when booking, though. Two of their 787-9s (registration CN-RHA and CN-RHB) were originally built for WestJet. Why does that matter? Because the interior might feel a little different than the standard RAM cabin you see in the brochures.
That Wild Plan for 200 Aircraft
Here is where things get interesting. CEO Abdelhamid Addou isn't playing around. The airline launched a tender for 200 new planes. That’s a $25 billion bet on Morocco’s future as a global hub.
They are looking at everyone: Boeing, Airbus, and even Embraer. Word on the street—and by street, I mean aviation insiders like ch-aviation—is that they are close to picking up about 20 Airbus A220s. This would be a huge shift. For years, RAM has been a "Boeing house." Bringing in the A220 would mean they finally have a plane that perfectly fits those "too big for a regional jet, too small for a 737" routes.
Deliveries for this massive order won't even start until 2028. Between now and then, they are basically "renting" their growth. They’ve signed deals with companies like Avolon and Air Lease Corporation to bring in used or leased 737s just to keep up with the demand. It’s a bit of a scramble.
📖 Related: Weather at Lake Charles Explained: Why It Is More Than Just Humidity
What about the "Small" Planes?
Don't forget the Embraer E190s. They only have four, but they are vital for the regional "feeder" flights. If you're flying from Lisbon or Madrid to catch a connection to Dakar, you might end up on one of these. They seat 96 people in a 2-2 configuration. No middle seats! Honestly, for a short flight, the E190 is often more comfortable than the bigger jets just because you aren't squeezed against a stranger.
The 2026 Shift: LAX and Beyond
The Royal Air Maroc fleet is being pushed to its limits this year. In June 2026, they are launching a direct flight to Los Angeles (LAX). That is a 12-hour haul. It will be the only nonstop flight from the US West Coast to Africa.
To pull this off, they have to dedicate their best 787-9 Dreamliners to the route. It’s a gamble. They are banking on the 2026 World Cup (which Morocco is heavily involved in via the 2030 hosting prep) and the massive California-Africa trade link.
The Reality Check: Reliability and Age
Is the fleet perfect? No.
If you look at the tail numbers, some of those 737-800s are pushing 20 years old. You can feel it in the seats and the slightly dated entertainment systems. The airline knows this. That’s why the retirement schedule for the older frames is accelerating as the leased MAX jets arrive.
👉 See also: Entry Into Dominican Republic: What Most People Get Wrong
The goal is to have 73 aircraft by 2027. Right now, they are sitting around 56 to 60. That means over the next 18 months, you’re going to see a lot of "new" planes entering service that don't actually belong to RAM—they’ll be wet-leased (plane + crew) or dry-leased (just the plane) from other companies to fill the gaps.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Flight
If you're booking a flight on the Royal Air Maroc fleet, here is how to play the game:
- Check the Aircraft Type: If it says 737-800, expect an older cabin. If it says 737-8 (the MAX), you're getting the modern experience.
- The Dreamliner Lottery: If you're flying Business Class on the 787-9, try to see if it’s one of the "WestJet" planes. The layout is 1-2-1, which is great for privacy, but some regulars prefer the native RAM layout for the seat cushion comfort.
- Casablanca Connections: If you have a short connection, try to fly on the Embraer E190 or ATR 72-600 (operated by RAM Express). These smaller planes often park closer to the terminal or use bus gates that can actually be faster than the congested big-jet gates.
- Watch the 2026 Schedule: With the LAX and Boston routes coming online, the wide-body fleet is going to be stretched thin. Expect more frequent "equipment swaps" where a 787 might be replaced by a smaller jet if the passenger load is light.
The Royal Air Maroc fleet isn't the biggest in the world yet, but it’s arguably the most active in Africa right now. They are transitioning from a regional player to a global heavyweight, and while the "new plane smell" isn't on every flight yet, it's getting there. Keep an eye on those tail numbers—the next few years are going to be a wild ride for Morocco's national carrier.