Royal Air Maroc and China Eastern forge strategic Africa-China air bridge
Royal Air Maroc and China Eastern Airlines have signed a comprehensive partnership agreement in Shanghai to substantially enhance air connectivity between China and Africa, responding to growing economic, cultural, and tourism exchanges between the regions.
The strategic collaboration encompasses codeshare agreements on major routes, extended connections beyond respective hub airports, and a Special Prorate Agreement designed to maximize network complementarity. These arrangements provide passengers expanded destination options, smoother connections, and optimized travel experiences between China and Africa through coordinated scheduling and seamless transfers.
Royal Air Maroc CEO Abdelhamid Addou emphasized the partnership’s alignment with King Mohammed VI’s vision following the sovereign’s 2016 China visit, which established frameworks for renewed bilateral dynamics and effective South-South cooperation models. The Moroccan carrier pioneered this connectivity by launching the first direct Casablanca-Beijing service in January 2025, operating three weekly frequencies and marking a historic milestone in bilateral aviation relations.
China Eastern President Wang Zhiqing highlighted the natural complementarity between Shanghai’s strategic hub position and Royal Air Maroc’s extensive African network. The Chinese carrier’s subsidiary, Shanghai Airlines, inaugurated Shanghai-Casablanca service via Marseille in January 2025, subsequently adding a fourth weekly frequency in September and introducing direct flights to optimize passenger comfort and connection efficiency.
The partnership leverages Morocco’s geographic advantages as a gateway between Asia, Africa, and Europe while capitalizing on China’s growing economic engagement with the African continent. Both carriers envision expanding collaboration into additional aviation sectors, demonstrating shared ambitions for high-quality service delivery and enhanced operational synergies.
The agreement represents more than commercial cooperation; it establishes critical infrastructure supporting China-Africa economic integration. As trade volumes and investment flows intensify between the regions, improved air connectivity becomes essential for facilitating business travel, tourism growth, and cultural exchange. The partnership positions both airlines to capture increasing demand while contributing to broader economic development objectives across Africa and strengthening Morocco’s role as a continental aviation hub.