Moroccan air company orders its first Airbus crafts

Moroccan air carrier "RAM" has for the first time ordered four A 320 Airbus planes made by European plant, ending a monopoly of U.S Boeing planes in its flying fleet, RAM announced last week.

The company said it will operate the Airbus ariliners, to be delivered in 2003, to service high traffic routes like the Casablanca-Paris one.

For RAM chief executive officer, Mohamed Hassad, the choice of Airbus was dictated by the high level of comfort, profitability and performance of the planes as Morocco's air traffic is bound to know a strong growth.

Airbus chairman, Noel Forgeard, was proud that his company struck a deal with "such a prestigious client" and hoped it would be the start of a long and fruitful partnership.

Last Thursday, Forgeard and his vice-chairman for north Africa and the Middle East Abdellah Sbai, expounded at a meeting with King Mohammed VI the new contract with RAM.