Royal Air Maroc is set to open Africa’s first direct air link to Los Angeles with the launch of its Casablanca–Los Angeles service on June 7, 2026. The new three-times-weekly route marks RAM’s return to the US West Coast after seven years and positions the airline as the sole carrier currently connecting the region to Africa.
The launch comes just days before the FIFA World Cup kicks off in North America, with the airline expecting demand from diaspora communities, tourists, business travelers, and football fans.
The service will be operated with Boeing 787 Dreamliners configured with fully flat business seats and modern long-haul amenities. The 12-hour flight becomes one of RAM’s longest routes, covering over 5,200 nautical miles between Casablanca and Los Angeles.
Despite the relatively small point-to-point market—12,000 passengers in the 12 months to September 2025—the airline is banking on strong connecting traffic through Casablanca to major African destinations including Cairo, Lagos, Accra, and Marrakech. RAM’s early-morning departure from Casablanca supports onward links from West and Central Africa and parts of Europe, though extended layovers on the return may require competitive fares.
Industry data shows that RAM will initially face no direct competition, as EgyptAir continues to evaluate its own return to Los Angeles and Ethiopian Airlines exited the market in 2019. RAM’s decision to deploy its lower-capacity 787-8s aligns with expectations for a developing but strategically important long-haul corridor. The carrier is also exploring further US expansion, including a potential Boston route.
This milestone emerges as RAM accelerates its global growth strategy, expanding frequencies on long-haul routes such as São Paulo, Miami, Washington, and Dubai, and reinforcing Casablanca’s role as a key hub linking Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The new service also supports Morocco’s broader aviation and tourism ambitions ahead of its co-hosting duties for the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Tickets for the Los Angeles route go on sale starting December 4.
