• Royal Air Maroc, China Eastern sign aviation cooperation deal

• Agreement boosts Africa-Asia routes via Casablanca, Shanghai hubs

• Goal: direct flights, stronger trade and tourism connectivity

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and China Eastern Airlines signed, Monday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing a new phase of aviation cooperation between their respective nations.

The agreement includes provisions for codeshare operations on specific routes, expanded connecting flights via the Casablanca and Shanghai hubs, and a Special Prorate Agreement (SPA) to streamline pricing. These measures will allow both carriers to offer passengers a denser network, simplified transfers, and a smoother travel experience between Africa and Asia. The partnership is designed to strengthen connectivity between the two continents by developing their networks, interconnecting hubs, and improving fare integration.

In the long term, both airlines aim to eliminate layovers by establishing regular direct routes. This development is intended to support the growing commercial and tourism flows among China, Morocco, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

This deepening alliance follows RAM's resumption of its direct Casablanca-Beijing route in January 2025, which had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The route currently operates three times weekly using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.

In a parallel development, China Eastern subsidiary Shanghai Airlines launched a Shanghai-Casablanca service with a stopover in Marseille. This route was augmented in September with an additional direct flight frequency. For RAM, the alliance aligns with its ongoing strategy of repositioning, which includes modernizing its fleet and solidifying Casablanca's status as a key regional hub.

Henoc Dossa