Summary
- Royal Air Maroc and Air Senegal have formed a strategic partnership to offer customers increased travel options and seamless connectivity.
- Passengers can now book and travel on both airlines to various destinations on their route networks, expanding their choices for frequencies and travel times.
- The partnership also includes cooperation in aircraft maintenance, chartering, and handling, as well as sharing technical and managerial training knowledge.
The national carrier of Morocco, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), inked a strategic partnership with Air Senegal to increase cooperation between the two companies, offering customers increased travel options, seamless connectivity, and more convenient flight schedules.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Royal Air Maroc CEO Abdelhamid Addou and Air Senegal General Director Alioune Badara Fall on September 27 at the RAM headquarters in Casablanca. By coming together, both national carriers expect to enhance collaboration in the long term and drive sustainable growth.
The benefit for passengers
The deal includes a codeshare agreement, allowing RAM passengers to purchase travel tickets from Air Senegal’s sales network and vice versa. Customers can book and travel on both airlines’ aircraft to various destinations on their route networks.
Photo: Royal Air Maroc
RAM’s network covers 75 destinations in over 40 countries, including Senegal. This is facilitated by its fleet of 55 aircraft, consisting of nine B787 Dreamliners and 28 B737-800s, and other Airbus, ATR, Boeing, and Embraer planes. The Senegalese carrier flies to about 22 destinations in 17 countries, with a fleet of 11 aircraft.
With the partnership, passengers can connect at Casablanca Mohamed V International Airport (CMN) or Dakar Blaise Diagne International (DSS) to a number of new destinations in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Furthermore, they will have more choices regarding frequencies and travel times on specific days. RAM CEO Abdelhamid Addou said;
“This partnership is perfectly in line with the excellent relations between our two countries, and we have expressed, during numerous preparatory meetings our firm desire to build a strategic and lasting partnership with Air Senegal.”
Collaborating in more aspects
In addition to better connectivity, both carriers will benefit from sharing technical expertise as the deal includes cooperation in aircraft maintenance, chartering, and handling. They will also share technical and managerial training knowledge and increase collaboration in providing digital and communication services.
A multidisciplinary team will also be mobilized to continue the commercial and technical deployment of the newly signed agreement and ensure its completion within the specified timelines. Air Senegal General Director Badara Fall said,
“Royal Air Maroc and Air Senegal are today realizing the desire of the highest authorities of our respective countries to develop this air bridge, both in terms of transport of passengers and cargo.”
Ultimately, the leadership sees this as a great benefit to both airlines and an opportunity to enhance economic, social, and cultural relations between Morocco and Senegal.
Morocco-Senegal air link
Morocco and Senegal’s relationship can be traced back over a century ago. In recent years, the flag carriers have played a pivotal role in moving people and goods while promoting trade and tourism between the states. Air Senegal operates four weekly flights between DSS and CMN with the Airbus A321, while Royal Air Maroc operates up to eight weekly flights with the 787 Dreamliner and 737-800.
The Moroccan national carrier was recently announced as the leading African airline in Senegal, according to the National Agency of Civil Aviation and Meteorology (ANACIM). Data from Q12023 suggests that RAM had more traffic to and from Dakar than any other African carrier, with a 15% share in passenger and cargo transport.
Furthermore, about 10% of all inbound traffic DSS came from CMN, second to Paris, which represents about 16% of arrivals. As such, over 20,000 passengers travel between Morocco and Senegal annually, making the route essential for both carriers.
What are your thoughts on Air Senegal and Royal Air Maroc’s partnership? Please let us know in the comments!