Morocco’s aviation sector is driving the African continent ahead along with South Africa and Nigeria, a Forbes report said Friday.
Airbus operating in Morocco issued its projection of a 3.6% yearly growth in demand for passenger traffic, an expansion Forbes ascribed to the nation’s advantageous location and investment-friendly environment.
The Forbes piece cited additional motives for investing in Morocco’s aviation industry, such as the country’s cultural values, which it deemed to be rich and varied. Morocco’s open sky policy and localization, which promote collaborations and investments.
The aviation industry exported more than MAD 20 billion in 2022, nearly double the MAD 15.4 billion recorded in 2021 and MAD 12.6 billion in 2020, according to figures from the exchange office.
Forbes cited the language barrier and the variety of regulatory frameworks as some of the challenges limiting the industry, proposing recruiting local specialists and giving localization priority as a solution.
Moroccan airports served more than 12 million passengers in the first half of 2023, marking an important milestone, according to The National Office of Airports (ONDA).
Domestic traffic had a recovery rate of about 83% from 2019 levels, recording a number of 1,166,657 carried passengers.
In 2023, the Moroccan government signed a contract with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) to expand its airline fleet from 50 to 200 aircraft over the course of the next 15 years.
The 2023–2037 program of the Moroccan airline is expected to bring in 17.5 million tourists, generate 120 billion dirhams in foreign exchange, create 80,000 direct jobs and 120,000 indirect jobs, and improve the tourism sector’s capacity to attract funding and establish new businesses.
Nigeria’s aviation industry is also witnessing an expansion. The Nigerian air transport market is expected to increase by 174% over the next 20 years under the current trends scenario, according to the International Air Transport Association.
South Africa is also reshaping the military aviation environment on the continent in addition to dominating the private aviation market. The South African Air Force (SAAF) is proof positive of the nation’s leading military aviation sector.
With Morocco, Nigeria, and South Africa emerging as aviation hubs, the continent has emerged as a global player with potential for its integration into the world economy, which boosts trade, draws in investment, and propels economic expansion worldwide.