São Paulo – About two months after resuming direct flights between São Paulo and Casablanca, the Moroccan airline operating the route, Royal Air Maroc, is already planning to increase its frequency. Currently operating three times a week, the flight is expected to increase to five or six weekly flights by the end of this year or early 2026, according to Othman Baba, Royal Air Maroc’s Director-General in Brazil. Baba shared this information with ANBA during his visit to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) on Tuesday (18).
“First we started with three flights, but we aim to reach five or six, as we did before the pandemic,” said Baba, revealing that the flights have maintained a high occupancy rate, averaging between 85% and 88% since operations resumed. Additionally, Royal Air Maroc plans to launch flights to Rio de Janeiro, as it had before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Baba. The airline suspended operations in Brazil in early 2020 and resumed flights to São Paulo in December 2024.
“We have a clear strategy for the Brazilian market. The Brazilian market is not new for Royal Air Maroc. We were here before the pandemic, and it was working very well for us,” said Baba. He added that the initial three flights are just the beginning. “We are not stopping here, because we believe the Brazilian market has a great potential for our airline,” the executive said. Regarding Rio de Janeiro, the company has yet to decide whether it will be a direct flight to the city or connected to the São Paulo-Casablanca route.
Very confident in the growth potential and favorable outlook for Royal Air Maroc in Brazil, Baba revealed that currently, most Brazilians traveling on the São Paulo-Casablanca route—around 90%—are connecting to European cities. The remaining 10% are heading to African countries, including Morocco itself. According to Baba, the airline reaches more than 35 African countries. “We are and we hope to be a bridge between Africa and the world. We already are one of the best airlines between Africa and Europe,” said the director-general, adding that the airline can play the same role in linking Africa and Latin America through Brazil.
Royal Air Maroc wants to remain a top choice for connecting flights but also aims to encourage Brazilians to stay in Morocco. “We are working in close cooperation with our tourism board to once again place Morocco at the top of the Brazilian travelers’ minds,” Baba said, referring to the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), which opened an office in São Paulo about a year and a half ago. Meanwhile, Royal Air Maroc established its office in the São Paulo capital in November 2024.
At the Arab-Brazilian Chamber
Accompanied by the ONMT representative in Brazil, Mohamed Amine El Joudani, and Royal Air Maroc’s Sales Executive, Marcos Belucci, Baba was received late Tuesday afternoon for a meeting with ABCC leaders at the entity’s headquarters in São Paulo. Attending the meeting were the ABCC’s President William Abid Dib Jr., Secretary-General & International Relations Vice President Mohamad Mourad, Board members Claudia Haddad and Sami Roumieh, Institutional Relations Director Fernanda Baltazar, and New Business Director Estevão Margotti de Carvalho.
The Director-General of Royal Air Maroc presented the company’s plans for Brazil to the group, discussed the positive moment his country is experiencing with major sports events, and explored partnerships with the ABCC. Topics covered included the institution’s support for connecting the company with Brazilian associations and government agencies, potential joint work in Muslim-friendly tourism, participation in trade missions, actions focused on women through the ABCC’s WAHI women’s committee, and others. The leaders of the ABCC offered full support for the execution of Royal Air Maroc’s work in Brazil.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
