Royal Air Maroc of Morocco to Start Direct Flights from Nairobi to Casablanca

Kenya airways, the ailing national carrier that has dominated the skies for years is set to receive another competitor in the aviation sector as the national carrier of Morocco, Royal Air Maroc, plans to start operations in the country.

Royal Air Maroc is set to officially start direct flights from Nairobi City to Casablanca on the 31st of March this year of 2016. The state-owned airline will now be operating two weekly flights from Nairobi to Casablanca in what has been termed as strengthening trading activities between Kenya and Morocco.

The trading activities between Kenya and Morocco have not been that vibrant even after an agreement that was signed in the year 2013 and which was meant to improve the economic ties between the two countries seems to have born little fruits. Over the years, Morocco has been importing jute, dyeing and tanning extracts as well as fruit juices from Kenya while Kenya has been importing fertilizers, synthetic fibers for spinning, perfumes as well as cosmetics, drugs, printing as well as bookbinding machinery from Morocco.

In the year 2013, a delegation of 106 Moroccan investors flew into Kenya and witnessed the signing of an economic memorandum of understanding for the investors from Morocco to invest in in the agriculture, energy as well as the pharmaceutical sectors in Kenya.

The starting of direct flights between Nairobi and Casablanca has two major implications to the economy of Kenya:

1. The trading activities between Kenya and Morocco are going to be enhanced. The two countries will be able to import goods from each other directly without having to pass through the airspace of other countries. Investors from both countries will also be able to link up directly and carry out business activities. Tourism activities between the two countries will also be enhanced.
2. Kenya Airways is surely going to lose some of its revenue that it has been getting for the flights to Morocco. Kenya Airways will have to adjust its prices to fit the already intensified competition in the aviation field.

Article by Juma Fred.