Royal Air Maroc (RAM) will cut one-third of its pilots, 30 per cent of cabin crew. It will also ground 20 aircraft according to reports.
RAM has been losing US$109.1 million every month owing the travel downturn and the effects of Covid-19.
Amongst the 20 aircraft being grounded are four B787s and 12 B737s.
The grounding of these aircraft is significant because they were to allow RAM’s expansion both transatlantic and to Africa.
Back in 2015 the then CEO Driss Benhima unveiled ambitious plans for its expansion into Africa.
RAM was to become more of a sixth-freedom airline. It was to feed travellers from Europe and North America to Africa via its Casablanca hub.
RAM’s African network was a prime reason Oneworld accepted it for membership.
Until that time Oneworld did not have a full member in the African continent.
Oneworld membership prompted American Airlines to enter into a code-share agreement with RAM
Furthermore it would launch a route linking Philadelphia with Casablanca effective June 2020.
The code-sharing is now in place but that direct Philadelphia-Casablanca service never happened thanks to Covid-19.
RAM joined Oneworld on April 1.
When RAM restarts full operations expect to see fewer options via Casablanca.
