Royal Air Maroc Takes Delivery of Sixth Embraer E190 to Boost Regional Growth

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A jet that once wore Kenya Airways colours now flies for Morocco, and that handover says more about Royal Air Maroc’s fleet expansion than any press release.  

Royal Air Maroc has taken delivery of its sixth Embraer E190, a pre-owned regional jet it leases from US lessor Azorra Aviation. The aircraft is 15 years old. Kenya Airways received it in 2011 and retired it in early 2025, then returned it to Azorra.

The E190 carries about 100 passengers. Royal Air Maroc configured its first E190s with 96 seats, 12 in business and 84 in economy, for European and West African routes from Casablanca. The airline has not published a schedule for this latest aircraft. Le360 reported, citing an unnamed source, that the next E190 will fly from northern Moroccan airports to tourist-source cities in Spain, France and the United Kingdom.

Why the Royal Air Maroc Fleet Expansion Matters Beyond One Jet

One E190 barely registers against the plan behind it. A 2023–2037 programme contract between the airline and the Moroccan government aims to lift the fleet from 50 to 200 aircraft. CEO Abdelhamid Addou has tied that growth to a target of 31.6 million passengers a year.

The delivery schedule shows where that growth will come from. Royal Air Maroc expects to end 2026 with 74 aircraft and reach 88 in 2027, averaging 10 to 15 new aircraft a year. A separate lease with Dubai Aerospace Enterprise brings 13 Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets from 2027. Mainline jets will drive most of the expansion. The E190 fills thinner routes.

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Demand already supports the push. Moroccan airports handled a record 36.3 million passengers in 2025, up 11% on 2024, according to the national airports authority ONDA. During the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the airline added frequencies to Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Tunisia, Mali, Nigeria and Cameroon. Nobody has said whether those frequencies will outlast the tournament.

Three groups carried this story: the Moroccan state, which injects capital into the airline, leasing firms like Azorra, and a Kenyan carrier that retired a jet it no longer needed. Leasing matters because it lets Royal Air Maroc add capacity fast without buying new aircraft. Today, that capacity points north. The airline schedules overnight Casablanca slots for European routes and daytime slots for African ones.

Nothing announced links this aircraft to Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Johannesburg or Addis Ababa. Agencies in those cities should check live schedules with Royal Air Maroc and their GDS before they sell anything. Fares, frequencies and service levels on key African routes remain open questions, and no deadline exists for answering them.

How This Could Shape Africa’s Tourism Sector

Casablanca could become the continent’s default connector. If Royal Air Maroc scales to 200 aircraft, more African itineraries may route through Morocco. Sub-Saharan agencies would gain a European gateway. They would also hand more of their clients’ journeys to a single North African hub.

Aircraft recycling could lower entry costs for African carriers. The Kenya-to-Morocco transfer shows that a retired African jet can find a second career on the continent. Leasing could let smaller carriers test thin routes without buying new planes, potentially opening secondary cities to visitors.

Morocco could pull more tourists north. Regional jets that feed Spain, France and the UK strengthen Morocco’s grip on European leisure traffic. Southern and East African destinations compete for the same long-haul travellers, and they will feel the pressure if Casablanca captures them first.

Multi-country itineraries could gain a gateway. Tour operators can pair Morocco stopovers with West African circuits, but only if Royal Air Maroc publishes the routes and prices that make those packages workable.

The risk is imbalance. A 200-aircraft carrier that favours Europe could widen the gap between intercontinental and intra-African connectivity. We argue that the real test of this plan is whether African travellers can fly between African cities more cheaply and more often by 2037.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Answers 

What did Royal Air Maroc receive? 

A pre-owned Embraer E190 leased from Adventures Azorra Aviation. It previously flew for Kenya Airways

How big is Royal Air Maroc’s fleet plan? 

The airline aims to grow from 50 to 200 aircraft by 2037 under its 2023 government programme contract.

Where will the new E190 fly? 

Royal Air Maroc has not published a schedule. Le360 reported that it will serve Spain, France and the UK from northern Morocco.

Will the jet add routes to sub-Saharan Africa? 

No announcement says so. Agencies should confirm schedules with the airline and their GDS.

What should travel agents do now? 

Monitor schedule filings, check Casablanca connections before selling, and watch fares on African routes.