Rabat – Moroccan airline Royal Air Maroc (RAM) will restart its direct flights between Casablanca and Beijing on January 20, 2025, after being suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To mark this occasion, RAM signed 16 agreements with major Chinese travel agencies during a ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday evening.
The partnerships aim to secure long-term seat allocations on these flights, as well as strengthen partnerships with Chinese travel agencies and ensure a high occupancy rate for the Casablanca-Beijing route, said RAM in a press release.
The agreements were signed by Abderrahman Brahimi, RAM’s Director for Morocco, Maghreb, Middle East, and Asia, and Adil Khalloufi, RAM’s representative in China.
Brahimi the strong demand from Chinese travelers for Morocco, adding that the agreements follow extensive discussions with both old and new partners.
The Casablanca-Beijing route will operate three times a week, with flights departing Casablanca on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 4:20 PM local time and arriving in Beijing the next day at 11:55 AM local time.
Return flights will leave Beijing on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 1:55 PM local time, arriving in Casablanca at 8:10 PM local time. The flights will be operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, which have a capacity of 302 seats, including 26 in Business Class.
This route is part of RAM’s broader 2024-2037 plan to enhance connectivity between Morocco and China. Brahimi stated that RAM plans to increase the frequency of flights to Beijing from three to seven weekly flights. The airline also aims to expand its network to other major Chinese cities like Shanghai and Guangzhou, which are seen as promising markets for passenger and cargo transport.
The Casablanca-Beijing route aligns with bilateral agreements made during King Mohammed VI’s historic visit to China in 2016, which included visa-free entry for Chinese citizens visiting Morocco, Brahimi noted.
Wednesday’s ceremony concluded with a gala dinner attended by Moroccan and Chinese officials, journalists, and other notable guests. RAM representatives presented their vision for boosting tourism and enhancing travel between the two countries.
Also present at the dinner was Morocco’s ambassador to China, Abdelkader El Ansari, who said that the direct route will support the growing economic, commercial, and cultural exchanges between Morocco and China.
