Moroccan carrier activities recovering since February

The Moroccan carrier company (Royal Air Maroc) said its activity has been recovering since last February after the serious crisis entailed by last September's events.

The chairman and CEO of RAM, Mohamed Berrada, told reporters results scored in March were positive and are even more promising for the coming months. He went on that RAM projects to set up a charter company to contribute to developing national tourism and meet the 10 million-tourist target set by Morocco for 2010. This charter company will also improve international air freight, with Africa mainly.

Royal Air Maroc has also devised a plan to modernize its fleet by purchasing new aircraft and is getting more involved in the hotel industry by committing to build one to two hotels a year in partnership with German and British tour operators.

Last September's events had serious incidence on the Moroccan carrier, which was already suffering, since 2000, from the hike of oil prices and US dollar. RAM faced the increase in insurance costs which went up from 28 million DH to 120 million, forcing the state to intervene to guarantee the war risk coverage, under a program-contract signed by the two sides in November.

RAM CEO also announced that starting next May 7, the company will be servicing four weekly flights to New York and six weekly flights in summer. The rhythm of flights to New York will reach a flight everyday.

RAM employs some 6,000 persons and posted in 2001 a turnover exceeding 6.9 billion DH (US$ 600 million). It carries an annual 3.7 million passengers.