The direct flight between Philadelphia and Casablanca, heralded as American Airlines' first African route in history, has ultimately failed to transport even a single passenger. Six years after the project was abandoned, the American airline has no plans to revive it.

Initially announced as a significant addition to American Airlines' international program for the summer of 2020, the inaugural flight was set to take off from Philadelphia on June 4, 2020. The service was intended to operate three times per week using a Boeing 757 until September 8. The airline boldly proclaimed that it would become the only American carrier to offer a direct flight to Casablanca, marking its entry into the African continent.

However, the objective of this route extended beyond just the Moroccan market. With Royal Air Maroc joining the Oneworld alliance, American passengers would have had the opportunity to continue their journeys from Casablanca to Marrakech, Lagos, Accra, and several other African destinations.

Reservations were expected to open as early as August 2019, and the network planning manager at American Airlines expressed enthusiasm, stating that this new route was merely "the beginning" of the airline's expansion into Africa.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Project

Unfortunately, the flight never had the chance to take off. By July 2020, faced with a dramatic decline in traffic due to the pandemic, American Airlines significantly reduced its international network. Casablanca was placed on the list of destinations that the airline would no longer serve. American Airlines clarified that the Philadelphia–Casablanca route would not launch as originally planned, ruling out the notion of a simple postponement.

According to an article published on July 24, 2026, by Simple Flying, Casablanca is now listed among the fifteen transatlantic destinations abandoned by American Airlines. Since the cancellation, the airline has not released any new schedule regarding the route, nor has it reintroduced direct service in its plans. While American Airlines continues to sell tickets to Casablanca with layovers, particularly through its partnership with Royal Air Maroc, no direct flights connect Philadelphia to Morocco.

This route, once touted with great fanfare in 2019, was intended to symbolize American Airlines' foray into Africa. In the end, it remains one of the few international routes that was scheduled and marketed without ever completing its inaugural flight.

As reported by bladi.net.