Morocco Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in morocco, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Aerospace
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Overview

Aerospace – Civil

Aerospace value-added trade is one of Morocco’s fastest growing sectors. Despite the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the sector, aerospace companies in Morocco managed to quickly recover and surpassed pre-covid sales numbers.  According to the Moroccan Exchange office, the aerospace sector’s exports have increased by nearly 15 percent in 2024 in comparison to the previous year. Similarly, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), Morocco’s flagship air carrier, plans to quadruple its fleet by 2037 with nearly 200 aircraft to meet growing numbers of tourists ahead of the 2030 World Cup. The airline is also looking to open several new destinations to the United States. 

As of December 2024, the aeronautical ecosystem in Morocco consists of nearly 150 companies with a turnover of around $2.6 billion in exports, with the number of direct jobs at 17,000 employees. Morocco has two Memoranda of Agreement in place with two American companies: one with Boeing signed in 2016 and another one with Collins Aerospace signed in July 2022. Both MOUs aim at creating suppliers’ ecosystems in Morocco.

Morocco has 26 airports, all operated by the National Airports Authority (ONDA). ONDA is responsible for all aspects of airport security and purchasing related to its projects. In 2024, air traffic has reached 32.7 million passengers marking a 21 percent from the previous year. Continuing in such growth requires having adequate infrastructure and continuously improved clients’ experience. As such, ONDA has recently launched its Airports 2030 strategy intending to spend $4.5 billion by 2030 in the expansion and enhancement of numerous airports. Under this program, Casablanca’s airport will nearly triple its capacity, while projects in Marrakech, Tangier, Agadir, Fez, and Tangier will see their capacity double by 2029. A significant portion of the budget will be dedicated to safety and security equipment and air traffic. The National Airports Authority (ONDA) is responsible for all aspects of airport security and purchasing related to its projects. For more information, please refer to the ONDA call for tender page available via this link: https://www.ONDA.ma

Royal Air Maroc, the majority state-owned flag carrier, operates short-haul flights within the country, medium-haul flights to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and intercontinental long-haul flights to the United States, Canada, Brazil, and China. RAM’s  includes over 40 Boeing aircraft, including 30 Boeing 737s, and 11 Boeing 787s. Royal Air Maroc has been a member of the OneWorld alliance since June 2020.  Following RAM’s CEO announcement in early 2024 to quadruple its fleet from 52 to 200 aircraft by 2037, a tender was launched to buy new aircraft. This will increase RAM’s destinations from 90 to 143 by 2037. Europe will have the highest number of new destinations with 73 while 12 additional destinations will be in Africa, 13 on the American continent, and 8 in Asia. This is in support of Morocco’s 2023-2036 tourism roadmap. In addition to RAM, United airlines started operating direct flights between Newark and Marrakech in October 2024 while Delta Air Lines announced the launch of a direct flight from Atlanta to Marrakech in October 2025.

Morocco maintains an Open Skies Agreement with the United States, and has a similar agreement with the European Union, known as the Euro-Mediterranean aviation agreement.  In 2023, Morocco awarded the right to a foreign carrier to operate and transport passenger and cargo on domestic flights in Morocco.  Though not codified, foreign air carriers seeking to operate domestic flights in Morocco may petition the Ministry of Transportation’s Directorate General for Civil Aviation to operate domestic services.

Aerospace – Defense

The Royal Moroccan Air Force flies primarily French and American aircraft. American aircraft in the Air Force inventory include F-16 and F-5 fighters, T-6 trainers, C-130 transport, CH-47D, AH-64E helicopters, and G-550 business jets for VIP transport. The Royal Moroccan Navy operates modern frigates equipped with U.S.-origin digital communications and operates Bell 412 helicopters and King Air 350 aircraft.

The FMS portfolio is worth $8.9 billion. There are several other cases currently in the FMS development process which have the potential to bring the total FMS portfolio to well over $10.3 billion. Primary suppliers for the Moroccan military are the United States, France, Spain and Israel. Morocco is the largest purchaser of American weapons in Africa. 

To further Morocco’s aim to build a military and defense industry, in early 2022, Sabca and Sabena Aerospace (part of the Belgian Blueberry Group) the government of Morocco, and U.S. company Lockheed Martin signed a strategic partnership creating the joint venture Maintenance Aero Maroc (MAM). This partnership includes a state-of-the-art maintenance and repair center, revision, and upgrade (MRO&U) for military airplanes and helicopters in Benslimane airport. In February 2023, the Moroccan Administration of National Defense and Boeing signed an industrial compensation agreement as part of the extension of the acquisition program of Apache Helicopters.  This agreement aligns with the law 10.20 (adopted June 2021) for the defense industry where arms, munitions and military airplanes’ maintenance are all targeted.

The bi-annual Marrakech Air Show is a recommended event for U.S. aerospace companies seeking to sell in Africa. The upcoming edition’s date is expected to be announced by the end of 2025 and is expected to take place in 2026. For more information, email Office.Casablanca@trade.gov.

Leading Sub-Sectors

  • Maintenance for all types of aircraft (civil and defense)
  • Inputs for cabling production of aircrafts (or other commercial vehicles)
  • Service providers
  • Technical training
  • Parts and equipment suppliers for aircraft
  • Parts and equipment suppliers for airport facilities
  • Pilot and crew training
  • Air navigation control systems
  • Radio communication systems
  • Baggage handling
  • Scanning equipment
  • Passenger security devices
  • Aviation consulting services
  • Security systems
     

Opportunities

Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment, Transport and Logistics, and ONDA are pursuing a development strategy to: 

1)    Strengthen the status of the Casablanca airport as an international connection hub for Central and West Africa.
2)    Develop the Marrakech Menara Airport; and
3)    Sustain the development of airport infrastructure through airport extensions, modernizations, and new construction projects.

Resources

ONDA’s Development PlanGrouping of Moroccan Aeronautic and Space Industries 
(Groupement des Industries Marocaines Aéronautiques et Spatiales, GIMAS)
Ministère de l’Industrie et du Commerce 
The national public tendering portal, managed by the Moroccan Treasury.