• Morocco, Rwanda sign air services deal to boost aviation ties
• Pact supports Royal Air Maroc, RwandAir, airport expansion goals
• Reflects rising South-South cooperation amid SAATM integration push
  

Morocco and Rwanda signed an air services agreement on Thursday, September 25, 2025, on the sidelines of the 42nd International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal. The two nations aim to intensify bilateral cooperation in aviation, while also promoting the exchange of expertise in air safety and security. More broadly, both countries seek to solidify their positions as regional hubs and enhance their role in connecting the African continent to major global air traffic flows.

For Morocco, which intends to strengthen its national carrier’s footprint across the continent, the agreement opens new service prospects into East Africa. The kingdom is counting on Royal Air Maroc to help double annual passenger traffic at its airports to 80 million and raise incoming tourist flow to 26 million by 2030.

Meanwhile, Kigali views the cooperation as an opportunity to diversify its alliances and expand its air industry network. Rwanda is betting on the growth of RwandAir and the development of the future Bugesera International Airport, which is planned to have a capacity of 14 million passengers.

This type of agreement reflects a growing trend of South-South cooperation within the continent's aviation sector. This push comes as the implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) remains a strategic priority for improving internal connectivity and reducing reliance on foreign airlines.

Henoc Dossa