What is Royal Air Maroc Cargo’s vision for the next five years, CargoForwarder Global wanted to know. In an exclusive interview, Yassine Berrada, Vice President Cargo at Royal Air Maroc, outlines the company’s ambitious plans for the coming half-decade and beyond, highlights fleet expansion, enhanced global connectivity, a steadfast commitment to sustainability and digital innovation, and shares the secret to success in air cargo.
Royal Air Maroc Cargo’s vision for the next five years is anchored in fleet growth, with plans to benefit from the acquisition of widebody aircraft and the addition of at least one all-cargo narrowbody by late 2026, Yassine Berrada states in response to CargoForwarder Global’s opening question regarding the airline’s 5-year plan. This move is expected to support the company’s long-term goal of quadrupling its fleet by 2037.
Casablanca’s geographical advantage
In addition, the company is focusing on strengthening its role as a key logistics bridge between Africa and the rest of the world. “We aim to enhance connectivity between Africa and Europe, the Americas, and Asia, through the inauguration of new lanes such as Boston, Guangzhou, and New Delhi,” Yassine Berrada says. The recent reopening of the Casablanca-São Paulo route is a case in point, re-establishing Morocco as a strategic transit point. “Morocco is a pivotal gateway to the rest of the world, with the near proximity it has with Western Europe and Western Africa, as well as the 7-hour flight to North America. With the recent reopening of the Casablanca-São Paulo route, Morocco regains its rightful place as a first leg to Europe and Asia with the direct connection to Beijing,” he explains. CargoForwarder Global asks what motivated the recent expansion of routes to São Paulo, Toronto, and Beijing, and if there are plans to add more destinations in the near future? “Those routes are traditional destinations for Royal Air Maroc. Covid-19 stopped our expansion at the time, but now the company is deploying a strong commercial strategy with new route openings as one of its key pillars. Routes are studied for both passenger and cargo strong potential,” he replies.
Key industries and commodities
Its strategic positioning makes Casablanca a vital node for global trade, benefiting industries and regions across multiple continents. The city’s Mohammed V International Airport is already one of the busiest in Africa and is set to further expand as construction launches in JUN25 on a USD 1.5 billion passenger terminal in preparation for Morocco’s co-hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2030. Yassine Berada reveals that, on the cargo side, the industries and commodities that are currently particularly strong into/out of Casablanca, are automotive and aeronautic parts, fresh agricultural products, and personal effects.
Sustainability…
Sustainability is a cornerstone of Royal Air Maroc Cargo’s strategy, CargoForwarder Global learns. “Royal Air Maroc deploys a strong sustainability strategy in terms of eco-friendly power generation, through the installation of photovoltaic panels all over the Casablanca Hub, and the use of electric vehicles for our day-to-day transportation needs,” Yassine Berrada shares. The airline has also joined the IATA Eco Hub, participating in initiatives such as IATA CORSIA Connect, IATA CO2 Connect, and IATA Track Zero, which support compliance with international carbon offsetting standards and accurate emission calculations. Environmental Stewardship is important, too. Royal Air Maroc Cargo actively participates in the IATA Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) program and is currently preparing for the IENVA Environmental Assessment, with an audit scheduled mid-2025.
… and digital innovation
On the digital front, partnerships with cargo.one and CHAMP Cargosystems have significantly improved operational efficiency and customer experience. “Digitalization is a path that all the industry’s front-runners have adopted and continue to deploy each year. Our partnerships are only an example of the company’s commitment toward offering our customers a seamless experience whether during booking, tracking, delivery, or claims follow-up,” says Yassine Berrada. He adds: “CHAMP Cargosystems is now our HUB operators’ best friend. It enables them to keep a detailed view over what we already have stored and each package arriving and departing our facilities.”
Challenges and a competitive edge
Expanding a global cargo network is not without challenges. “We mainly rely on the widebody passenger aircraft the company acquires at a steady pace, thus opening new cargo routes is an organic action taken and prepared for by the Cargo Division,” Yassine Berrada notes. “Commercial efforts are consistently deployed to meet new customers and retain existing ones by offering them a seamless experience.”
When asked about competition and how the airline plans to compete with other major cargo carriers in Africa and beyond, Yassine Berrada is candid: “Royal Air Maroc Cargo is part of the most ambitious airline in Africa; the only way forward for us is to develop our network and set new goals each couple of years. Competition is also doing a great job, and this can only be good news for our customers and our continent, but the momentum Royal Air Maroc has currently, is simply unprecedented.”
The secret to success
And finally, what does Yassine Berrada believe the secret to success in air cargo is? His belief is clear: “Customer experience. And a strong sense of partnership between the airline and the customers,” he says, going on to add efficient operations and motivated, skilled teams into the success equation.
Thank you, Yassine Berrada, for your answers.
