Moroccan carrier orders four Airbus a321

The Moroccan carrier Royal Air Maroc on Monday signed with the European plane maker Airbus a contract on a firm order for four A321.

The contract was signed at Le Bourget air show. RAM, which until now had an all-Boeing fleet, will receive its first airbus during the last three months of 2003. It is projecting to use its Airbus fleet on its mid-mail routes having a dense traffic.

"We are looking forward to servicing our mid-mail routes with A321 planes. The high standard comfort, profitability and performance of these planes, make of them a perfect tool meeting the high growth of traffic we are forecasting for Morocco, part of an economic development policy that is mainly based on the promotion of the tourism sector," said RAM chairman and managing director, Mohamed Hassad, during the signing ceremony.

Airbus chairman, Noel Forgeard, said the contract marks the beginning of a "long and fruitful partnership" initiated between his company and RAM. He said Airbus will spare no effort so that its planes "meet the expectations of this new, prestigious client."

The A321 has a 175 passenger capacity and can accommodate up to 220 passengers in charter flights.

Moroccan, British, French, German and Spanish ministers of transport attended the signing ceremony.