In a significant move, Royal Air Maroc announced a temporary suspension of several international flights late Saturday into Sunday, attributing this decision to the soaring prices of jet fuel, specifically kerosene, which have surged due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, coupled with a decline in demand for certain routes.
The airline's statement highlighted the extraordinary rise in operational costs that has profoundly impacted the global aviation sector, prompting numerous airlines to reassess their flight schedules and temporarily adjust their capacity to mitigate further losses. In line with this, Royal Air Maroc has suspended flights on several routes, including 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, who requested anonymity as they are not authorized to speak to the press, indicated that the skyrocketing prices of jet fuel, which have tripled in the international market compared to their levels before the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, compelled the airline's management to reassess the scheduling of certain flights and destinations where demand has significantly decreased.
The source elaborated in a conversation with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the rising production costs, exacerbated by the war's ramifications, have led to the suspension of several routes that were incurring substantial losses for the airline. They pointed out that kerosene constitutes a crucial component of operational expenses for airlines, typically accounting for between 15% to 30% of total costs, and this expense can sometimes exceed the budget allocated for human resources within these companies.
While many airlines have opted to increase ticket prices in response to the rising fuel costs, Royal Air Maroc has, so far, refrained from raising its fare prices or revising its pricing strategy in line with international market developments.
Furthermore, Royal Air Maroc confirmed that it will take all necessary measures to support passengers affected by this suspension. The airline stated that it is closely monitoring international developments and will gradually reinstate these routes as soon as operational and economic conditions permit.
As reported by alaraby.co.uk.
