Royal Air Maroc suspends flight paths due to rising gas prices

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has been, like many other airlines, affected by inflated gas prices due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Following an announcement from the airline on May 23rd, RAM’s flights to Cameroon, Congo, and other countries have been temporarily suspended, as reported by RFI and agencies on May 25th. 

Flights to Yaounde, Cameroon, and Libreville, Gabon, are suspended until June 9th, whilst Kinshasa in the RDC, and Brazzaville in Congo will remain closed until June 30th.

In its official statement, RAM explained that this decision has been taken in relation to the direct consequences of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, as the region reels from the US-Israeli war on Iran. 

The Moroccan airline further adds that the rapid increase in kerosene prices is to blame, with a barrel of petrol nearly doubling in the past month. 

According to Didier Brechemier for RFI, aeronautical expert, RAM chose to suspend its flights to Central Africa because it is an area sensitive to prices and their fluctuation.

The airline also invokes the slow demand on certain of these flightpaths, which, in consequence, are particularly unsustainable with the petrol price increase.

Simultaneously, RAM has announced on May 20th an increase in flights headed to the US this summer in the context of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, providing 32 more flights, or 8800 extra seats.

Royal Air Maroc assures it will progressively restore the concerned flight paths in Central Africa when the economic conditions are favourable again. 

Additionally, Royal Air Maroc’s flightpath will depend on the negotiations between Iran and the US and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, following some recent negotiations on May 23rd.

However, the future of the ceasefire is still uncertain, as Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, announced on May 24th that an agreement on Iranian Nuclear would not happen in “72 hours”. 

RFI and agencies, Maghrebi.org