Royal Air Maroc has resumed its first direct flights to the Chinese capital, Beijing, from Casablanca after a five-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The flight from Mohammed V Airport in Casablanca landed at Beijing Daxing International Airport at 11:55 AM (local time), carrying 291 passengers. Two hours later, the return flight to Casablanca took off at 1:55 PM, with 271 passengers on board. A formal reception ceremony was held at Beijing Daxing Airport, attended by Morocco’s ambassador to China, Abdelkader Anssari, along with several journalists and figures from both Morocco and China.
In a speech on this occasion, Adel Khloufi, representative of Royal Air Maroc in China, emphasized the strategic importance of this air route, which “not only provides a practical travel option between the two countries but also serves as a vital bridge for cultural and economic exchanges.” He added that this new route aims to enhance Moroccan-Chinese relations and stimulate tourism and bilateral trade, considering it “opens a new era of friendship and cooperation between our countries.”
Khloufi highlighted Morocco’s tourism potential, particularly pointing out the “charm of Marrakech and the sands of the Moroccan desert,” as well as the opportunities this route provides for business travelers. He explained that resuming this direct route should contribute to intensifying bilateral exchanges and facilitating movement between the two countries, while offering new prospects for development in both tourism and trade relations.
For his part, Kong Yui, Deputy Director of Beijing Daxing International Airport, noted that the resumption of this route aligns with the significant growth of Chinese tourism in Morocco since the decision to exempt Chinese citizens from visa requirements in 2016. He added that this air route is currently the only direct one between Beijing and Morocco, and its reactivation “will stimulate the international aviation market.” He confirmed that “this direct route will facilitate political, economic, commercial, and cultural exchanges between the two countries while enhancing comprehensive cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative,” expressing readiness to continue developing the aviation market between China and Morocco.
The Casablanca-Beijing route was launched on January 16, 2020, before being suspended a few weeks later due to the health crisis.
Flights are organized three times a week. They depart from Casablanca on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 4:20 PM (local time), arriving at Beijing Airport the following day at 11:55 AM (local time). As for flights departing from Beijing, they are scheduled for Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 1:55 PM (local time), arriving in Casablanca at 8:10 PM (local time).
These flights are operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft equipped with 302 seats, including 26 business class seats.