Royal Air Maroc Joins oneworld Alliance

Royal Air Maroc will join the oneworld® alliance effective 1 April 2020, becoming oneworld’s first full member in the African continent and bringing even more destinations and benefits for oneworld’s frequent flyers.

The entry of Royal Air Maroc into oneworld follows a 15-month implementation program to integrate Royal Air Maroc into the alliance. The airline’s regional subsidiary Royal Air Maroc Express will also join as a oneworld affiliate member in April.

Royal Air Maroc was first announced as a oneworld member-elect in New York in December 2018, weeks before oneworld celebrated its 20th anniversary and launched a transformation of the alliance. oneworld and Royal Air Maroc will host a joining ceremony in March in Marrakesh to celebrate the airline coming on board.

Royal Air Maroc will add 39 new destinations in 23 countries to the oneworld network, offering more flights and options for the frequent flyers of the alliance’s member airlines. The national carrier of Morocco, Royal Air Maroc connects its base in Casablanca with over 100 destinations in more than 50 countries over six regions – Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America. These include oneworld hubs at Amman, Doha, London Heathrow, Madrid, Miami, Moscow Domodedovo and New York JFK..

Starting in April, oneworld frequent flyers will enjoy the full range of oneworld benefits and services when travelling with Royal Air Maroc. The more than one million members of Royal Air Maroc’s Safar Flyer loyalty program will be able to earn and redeem awards on all oneworld member airlines.

Top tier members of Safar Flyer will have access to oneworld’s network of 650 lounges worldwide, and other benefits including priority check-in and boarding.

The new upcoming top tier level Safar Flyer Platinum will offer to its card holders oneworld Priority Emerald privileges, which include access to First and Business Class lounges, First Class priority check-in, priority boarding and fast track at select security lanes. Safar Flyer Gold card holders can look forward to oneworld Priority Sapphire privileges, including access to Business Class lounges, Business Class priority check-in and priority boarding. Safar Flyer Silver card holders will have access to oneworld Priority Ruby privileges, including Business Class priority check-in among other benefits.

Royal Air Maroc already codeshares with five oneworld members – American Airlines, Iberia, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines – with more partnerships expected in the coming months. American Airlines has also announced service to Casablanca starting June 4, as the airline’s entrance into Africa.

Royal Air Maroc is oneworld’s first new full member to join the alliance since 2014. The entry of Royal Air Maroc is the latest milestone in a year of transformation for the leading global alliance. In the last 12 months, oneworld unveiled new digital technology to enable a truly seamless travel experience across member carriers, and announced plans for the first oneworld branded lounge at Moscow Domodedovo Airport. The alliance also introduced a fresh brand positioning and tagline, Travel Bright, to kick off the alliance’s third decade and better resonate with the millennial generation of travelers.

Royal Air Maroc, the flag carrier of Morocco, carried some 7.5 million passengers last year. Its current fleet of 60 aircraft is centered on Boeing 737-800s and Embraer 190s on short to medium-haul routes, with Boeing 767 and Boeing 787-8s flying longhaul services. Its regional affiliate Royal Air Maroc Express operates five ATR 72s.

Under its five-year growth plan, its fleet will increase significantly, as it extends the reach of its network from 94 destinations previously to 121. It will also raise frequencies in many established markets making virtually all short and medium-haul markets at least daily and, in many cases, multiple frequencies a day, turning its Casablanca base into a fully-fledged transfer hub.

The airline offers a two-class Business and Economy product on most international routes, including seats that convert to angle lie-flat beds in its premium cabin and has undertaken significant investment recently in product and marketing, with a new brand image and marketing content, cabin refits, redesign and new uniforms.