Royal Air Maroc is deepening its connections to Brazil, signaling a strategic push to develop into a key transit point between Latin America, Morocco, Africa and the Arab world. The airline highlighted this expansion at a recent seminar focused on trade between Brazil and Arab nations, held in São Paulo.
The seminar provided a platform for Royal Air Maroc (RAM) to showcase its growing network and enhanced international connectivity. This move underscores the airline’s ambition to position itself as a crucial gateway for travelers and commerce across continents, facilitating connections that were previously less direct.
The airline’s strategy is unfolding alongside a surge in investment interest. The São Paulo event culminated in a memorandum of understanding aimed at attracting increased Arab investment into Brazil’s tourism sector. Analysts estimate the potential market for tourism investment in Brazil at $384 billion by 2028, with significant needs in infrastructure, hospitality, and the development of new tourist destinations.
São Paulo-Casablanca Route: A Strategic Link
Central to RAM’s strategy is the São Paulo-Casablanca route, which was relaunched in December 2024. Operated with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, the route is designed to directly support both passenger traffic and business exchange. Othman Baba, RAM’s regional director for Latin America, stated that the airline offered approximately 85,000 seats between Morocco and Brazil in 2025 with a schedule of three weekly flights.
The airline is already planning for expansion. Increasing flight frequency to four times per week is projected to increase seat capacity to nearly 130,000 in 2026, representing a 30% increase. This expansion reflects a growing demand for travel between the regions and RAM’s commitment to meeting that demand.
Growing Demand from Brazil and the Arab World
The increased capacity is being driven by a rise in demand, particularly from Arab travelers drawn to Morocco’s blend of culture, natural beauty, and high-end hospitality. The Brazilian market itself is also showing strong growth. According to Mohamed Amine Eljoudani, a representative of the Moroccan National Tourist Office, the number of Brazilian tourists visiting Morocco has risen significantly, from approximately 34,000 in 2023 to nearly 60,000 in 2025. This growth validates the potential of the air connection and the efforts to strengthen Morocco’s presence in the Brazilian tourism market.
Casablanca as a Hub for Expansion
This expansion is part of a larger, ambitious plan for Royal Air Maroc. The airline currently serves 100 destinations in 46 countries from its Casablanca hub. RAM is pursuing a strategic plan spanning 2023-2037, aiming to expand its fleet to 200 aircraft and increase annual passenger traffic to 32 million by 2037, a substantial increase from the 7.5 million passengers carried in 2024.
Beyond network growth, RAM is also focused on sustainability. In 2025, the airline completed its first flight using sustainable aviation fuel, marking a step in its commitment to environmental responsibility. This initiative demonstrates a broader effort to integrate sustainable practices into its operations.
Royal Air Maroc’s increased investment in the Brazil route and its broader expansion plans signal a growing confidence in the potential for increased trade and tourism between Latin America, Africa, and the Arab world. The airline’s strategic positioning as a connecting hub is poised to play a significant role in facilitating these connections in the years to come. The next key milestone for RAM will be the implementation of the increased flight frequency on the São Paulo-Casablanca route in late 2025, and the continued monitoring of passenger numbers and investment flows resulting from the memorandum of understanding signed in São Paulo.
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