Royal Air Maroc announced a temporary suspension of several international flight routes late Saturday into Sunday, attributing the decision to soaring prices of jet fuel, specifically kerosene. This spike in fuel prices has been attributed to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, alongside a notable decrease in demand for certain flight routes.
In an official statement, Royal Air Maroc linked the suspension to the exceptional rise in operational costs, which has significantly impacted the global aviation sector. As a result, numerous airlines are compelled to reassess their flight schedules and temporarily adjust their capacity to mitigate further losses.
The affected routes include Casablanca to Bangui, Casablanca to Brazzaville, Casablanca to Kinshasa, Casablanca to Douala, Casablanca to Yaoundé, Casablanca to Libreville, Tangier to Malaga, Tangier to Barcelona, Marrakech to Lyon, Marrakech to Bordeaux, Marrakech to Marseille, and Marrakech to Brussels.
A source from Royal Air Maroc, speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak to the press, revealed that the tripling of kerosene prices in the international market, compared to their levels prior to the U.S.-Israeli conflict over Iran, has prompted the airline's management to reconsider the scheduling of several flights and routes experiencing declining demand.
The source further elaborated in an interview that the increase in production costs stemming from the war has halted several routes that were significantly losing money for the airline. Kerosene typically constitutes a vital component of operational expenses for airlines, usually ranging from 15% to 30% of total costs. In some cases, these costs may even exceed the budget allocated for human resources within the companies.
While the rising fuel prices have led some airlines to increase ticket prices, Royal Air Maroc has, as of now, refrained from adjusting its ticket prices or revising its pricing policy to align with international market developments.
Furthermore, Royal Air Maroc assured that it will take all necessary measures to support passengers affected by this suspension. The airline is closely monitoring the international situation and intends to gradually resume these routes as soon as operational and economic conditions allow.
As reported by alaraby.co.uk.
