The country’s Competition Council said in a notice published on March 12 that Royal Air Maroc plans to acquire the remaining 40% stake in Atlas Servair, its inflight catering partner.
Atlas Servair is currently jointly owned by Royal Air Maroc and a European catering group, and the proposed acquisition would give the Moroccan airline full control of the company and its onboard service operations.
Push to improve service and efficiency
The move comes at a time when Africa’s aviation industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with carriers across the continent modernising fleets, expanding routes and improving service quality to compete more effectively on global routes.
Business Insider Africa reported in June 2025 that the sector is entering a new phase of growth, driven by increased investment, route expansion and a stronger focus on passenger experience.
This progress has been reflected in global rankings, with African carriers gaining greater recognition in international passenger surveys such as the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
According to the 2025 rankings, Ethiopian Airlines of Ethiopia retained its position as Africa’s leading airline, followed by Air Mauritius of Mauritius and RwandAir of Rwanda.
Royal Air Maroc ranked sixth on the continent, highlighting both its growing presence and the increasingly competitive nature of Africa’s aviation market.
At the same time, investment activity across the sector continues to accelerate.
Harith General Partners, one of Africa’s largest infrastructure investors, is set to take full ownership of South Africa’s largest airline, FlySafair, further expanding its transport and logistics portfolio.
Taken together, these developments point to a broader structural shift, as African aviation players reposition themselves to capture a larger share of regional and intercontinental traffic.
Within this context, Royal Air Maroc’s planned acquisition reflects a strategic effort to strengthen control over key service components as it scales operations and aligns more closely with international standards.
Fleet growth and infrastructure upgrade
Under a long-term agreement with the Moroccan government, Royal Air Maroc plans to increase its fleet from about 50 aircraft to 200 over the next 15 years.
The airline also aims to expand its network to as many as 150 destinations worldwide, supported by upgrades at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, which is being developed into a major transit gateway.
Tourism ambitions drive strategy
The expansion aligns with Morocco’s broader tourism goals.
The country welcomed nearly 20 million visitors in 2025 and is targeting more than 26 million tourists by 2030, when it will co-host the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Royal Air Maroc is expected to play a central role in supporting these targets by increasing connectivity and capacity.
