Jump to content

Royal Air Maroc: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Omar124 (talk | contribs)
15 edits
→‎Destinations: Removed unsourced, speculative info
Line 115: Line 115:
|begins 2 November
|begins 2 November
|[[Boeing 737-700]]
|[[Boeing 737-700]]
|-
|Casablanca
|[[Athens]]
|Winter 2010/2011
|[[Boeing 737]]
|-
|Casablanca
|[[Bejing]]
|Summer 2011
|[[Boeing 767]]/[[Boeing 787|787]]
|-
|Casablanca
|[[Budapest]]
|Winter 2010/2011
|[[Boeing 737]]
|-
|Casablanca
|[[Johannesburg]]
|Winter 2010/2011
|[[Boeing 767]]/[[Boeing 787|787]]
|-
|Casablanca
|[[Prague]]
|Winter 2010/2011
|[[Boeing 737]]
|-
|Casablanca
|[[Rio de Janeiro]]
|Summer 2011
|[[Boeing 767]]/[[Boeing 787|787]]
|-
|Casablanca
|[[Tokyo]]
|Summer 2011
|[[Boeing 767]]/[[Boeing 787|787]]
|-
|Casablanca
|[[Vienna]]
|Winter 2010/2011
|[[Boeing 737]]
|-
|Casablanca
|[[Washington D.C]]
|Winter 2010/2011
|[[Boeing 767]]/[[Boeing 787|787]]
|-
|-
|}
|}

Revision as of 07:54, 6 July 2010

Royal Air Maroc
File:RoyalAirMarocLogoSmall.png
IATA ICAO Callsign
AT RAM ROYALAIR MAROC
Founded1957
HubsMohammed V International Airport (CMN), Casablanca
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer programSafar Flyer
Subsidiaries
Fleet size55 (+ 22 orders)
Destinations80
Parent companyMoroccan Government
HeadquartersCasablanca-Anfa Airport
Casablanca, Morocco
Key peopleDriss Benhima (CEO since February 2006)
Websitehttp://www.royalairmaroc.com/

Royal Air Maroc (commonly called RAM, الخطوط الملكية المغربية Al-Khuṭūṭ al-Malakīyyah al-Maghribīyyah in Arabic) is the flag carrier airline of Morocco, headquartered on the grounds of Casablanca-Anfa Airport in Casablanca. It operates scheduled international flights from Morocco to Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America and a domestic and charter network, (including Hajj flights). Its base is Mohammed V International Airport (CMN), Casablanca.

History

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.

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 were 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. Boeing 757s were purchased in 1986 and eventually replaced the oldest 727s. The expansion of 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

Boeing 757.

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.

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 two 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. Six Boeing 737-400s were transferred to it with the aim of providing tourists with a direct route to Moroccan resort towns. In 2005, the company ordered four Boeing 787s to replace the leased 767s and expand North American, Middle Eastern, and African routes. It was announced in May 2008 that RAM had transported a record-breaking 6.33 million passengers in the previous fiscal year, the year 2007[1].

Royal Air Maroc has the largest fleet of 737s in Africa (42), and is expected to be the first airline in Africa to operate the Boeing 787.

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 began at Mohammed V airport in late 2005.

During the 4th Annual Moroccan American Coalition Convention that took place in October 10th and 11th 2009 in Washington, Mr. Amine El Farissi, the U.S. General Manager of Royal Air Maroc, confrimed the start of the Casablanca-Washington direct flight.

Stakes and ownership

The Moroccan government owns 95.95% of the airline and Air France 2.86%. The government intends to partially privatise the airline through the sale of a 25% holding. Royal Air Maroc has 5,719 employees. Royal Air Maroc has a 99% holding in Atlas Blue and 51% in Air Senegal International[1][2], see below.

The subsidiaries of The Group Royal Air Maroc are:

Boeing 737-800 push-back at London Heathrow Airport, England. (2007)

Network

Base

RAM has its base at Mohammed V International Airport (CMN) near Casablanca. The company operates short- , medium- and long-haul flights:

  • Short-haul flights are mainly national connections between the Moroccan airports and some flights to other North-African countries.
  • Medium-haul flights are operated between several Moroccan airports and destinations in Europe, Central Africa and the Middle-East.
  • Long-haul flights are the cross-Atlantic flights to Canada and the United States[3]

Destinations

Main article: Royal Air Maroc destinations
New Routes
From Destination Date Aircraft
Casablanca Paris-Charles de Gaulle begins 1 August Boeing 737-800
Tangier Barcelona begins 26 October ATR 72-200
Casablanca Moscow-Sheremetyevo begins 2 November Boeing 737-700

Fleet

Royal Air Maroc and operate the following fleet (as of April 2010):[4]

Royal Air Maroc fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Options Passengers
(First/Business/Economy) 		Notes
Airbus A321-200 4 -- 185(0/0/185)
168 (0/20/148) 		1 in the 168-seat configuration
3 in the 185-seat configuration
To be fitted with on-air mobile services
ATR 42-600 0 4 -- 62(0/12/50) Will operate by Royal Air Maroc Express
First african ATR 42 aircraft with Economy-Business configuration
ATR 72-200 4 2 -- 66(0/0/66) Royal Air Maroc Express
ATR 72-600 0 4 -- 78 (0/8/72) Will operate by Royal Air Maroc Express
Will replace all ATR 72-200 aircraft
Boeing 737-300F 1 0 -- Royal Air Maroc Cargo
Boeing 737-400 1 0 -- 145(0/13/132) 5 other Boeing 737-400 aircraft operated by Atlas Blue
Boeing 737-500 6 0 -- 108 (0/18/90)
134 (0/0/134) 		2 in the 134-seat configuration
4 in the 145-seat configuration
Boeing 737-700 7 0 -- 142 (0/20/122) 5 equipped with Winglets
Boeing 737-800 21 4 -- 157 (0/16/141)
189 (0/0/189) 		Three are operating for atlasBlue.com
19 equipped with Winglets
19 in the 157-seat configuration
2 in the 189-seat configuration
Boeing 747-400 1 0 -- 364 (18/66/280) Replacement aircraft: Boeing 787-8
Boeing 757-200 2 0 -- 196 (12/38/144) Exit the fleet: 2011
One aircraft is using for special charter flights
One is stored at Mohammed V International Airport
Boeing 767-300ER 5 0 -- 242 (24/20/198)
278 (0/32/246) 		2 in the 278-seat configuration
3 in the 236-seat configuration
For routes to Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Brazzaville, Brussels, Dakar, Douala, Dubai, Jeddah, Kinshasa, London-Heathrow, Monréal, New York, Paris-Orly, Pointe-Noire, Riyadh and domestic flights
Boeing 767-300F 0 3 -- Royal Air Maroc Cargo
Boeing 787-800 0 4 1 TBA Washington
Will replace the Boeing 747-400, Boeing 757-200 and gradually all routes of the Boeing 767-300ER
Total 51 21 1

Codeshare agreements

Royal Air Maroc has codeshare agreements with the following airlines (as of June 2010):

Head office

Royal Air Maroc has its head office on the grounds of Casablanca-Anfa Airport in Casablanca.[5] In 2004 the airline announced that it would move its head office from Casablanca to the Province of Nouaceur, near Mohammed V International Airport. MAP, the official state news agency, said that the construction of the headquarters and a 500 room conference hotel would take 1 year and 6 months.[6] The agreement to build the head office in Nouaceur was signed in 2009.[7]

Incidents and accidents

This Royal Air Maroc Boeing 767-300, civil registration CN-RNT, was damaged in a hard landing incident at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Major incidents involving fatalities and/or loss of airplane are:[8]

  • 14 November 1958: A Douglas DC-3 was damaged during landing at Tangier airport. No injuries were reported but the fuselage was damaged beyond repair.
  • 1 April 1970: a Sud Aviation Caravelle crashed on approach to Casablanca Mohammad V airport when it lost control at a height of about 500 feet. Sixty one of the 82 passengers and crew were killed.
  • 21 August 1994: an ATR 42-300 operating Flight 630, the domestic Agadir-Casablanca route lost control at 16000 feet, entered a steep dive, and crashed into nearby mountains. Investigators suspect that the pilot deliberately disengaged the autopilot and directed the aircraft into the ground. All of the 44 passengers and crew members were killed.
  • 20 April 2009: a Boeing 767-300 operating as Flight 200 (registration CN-RNT) from Casablanca encountered wake turbulence during approach into John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. This resulted in the aircraft making a very hard landing, and further inspections on the ground revealed cracks and wrinkles on the fuselage.[9][10] Rendered unflyable, RAM brought in Boeing and Delta engineers to repair the aircraft on site at JFK.[11]
  • 6 June 2010, a Boeing 737-400 of Royal Air Maroc struck several birds. One of the engines was badly damaged and the plane had to return to the airport. Some witnesses say they saw the engine burning. No one was injured in the incident.

References

  1. ^ "Senegal retakes control of airline from Air Maroc". Reuters. 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  2. ^ "Senegal government takes major stake in its flag carrier". AFP. 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-11-02.
  3. ^ Route maps on company website, visited June 24, 2009
  4. ^ Royal Air Maroc Fleet
  5. ^ "Non-airline partners." Royal Air Maroc. Retrieved on 19 October 2009.
  6. ^ "Royal Air Maroc.(Africa/Middle East)(Brief Article)." Air Transport World. 1 July 2004. Retrieved on 19 October 2009.
  7. ^ "Casablanca: Nouaceur abritera le futur siège de la RAM." L'Économiste. 18 August 2009. Retrieved on 19 October 2009.
  8. ^ accident data from Aviation Safety website on RAM as on 29 June 2009
  9. ^ Additional details from: Aviation Herald on RAM flight 200
  10. ^ Photo of damaged B767 after incident.
  11. ^ "Four Months After Hard Landing at JFK, Crippled RAM 767 Nearly Repaired", NYCAviation, 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2009-08-21.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Royal Air Maroc.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Air_Maroc&oldid=371989853"