Royal Air Maroc is set to welcome its first Boeing 737 MAX 9 on May 30, 2026, as the national carrier accelerates a fleet expansion program that will bring it to levels unprecedented in its history, Le360 news platform reports, quoting a reliable source. The aircraft, registered CN-RHQ and freshly off Boeing’s assembly line, forms part of an order covering eight aircraft of this type — the first MAX 9s in RAM’s fleet, which until now has operated only the smaller MAX 8 variant within the next-generation narrowbody family.
With the incoming delivery, RAM’s fleet will reach 66 aircraft, its highest-ever count. The trajectory is expected to continue at an accelerated pace: the airline is targeting 74 aircraft by end-2026 and 88 by the close of 2027, implying an average intake of between ten and fifteen new planes per year — a rate of fleet renewal that reflects both the airline’s commercial ambitions and the demands of the 2030 World Cup passenger traffic program.
The Boeing 737 MAX 9 is the longer-body variant of Boeing’s best-selling narrowbody family, capable of accommodating up to 220 passengers in a typical configuration.
It offers a range of approximately 6,110 kilometers, giving RAM flexibility to serve high-demand medium-haul routes in West Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Europe without the higher operating costs of widebody aircraft. The type’s fuel efficiency advantage of approximately 20 percent over previous-generation aircraft is a significant commercial factor at a time when jet fuel costs and sustainability reporting requirements are both rising.
The aircraft features a current-generation flight deck, LED ambient lighting, enlarged overhead storage compartments, ergonomic seating, and USB charging at every seat — a cabin specification aligned with the expectations of premium leisure and corporate travellers. RAM’s cabin configuration for the type has not yet been officially disclosed, but industry sources expect a two-class layout consistent with the airline’s medium-haul product positioning.
RAM’s fleet renewal program is one of the most ambitious in the African carrier landscape. The airline has been expanding steadily since its 2020-2023 restructuring, and its growth trajectory now reflects a dual mandate: to serve the domestic and regional network as Morocco’s hub carrier, and to position Casablanca Mohammed V as the primary gateway for World Cup visitors from across the globe in 2030. Achieving 88 aircraft by 2027 would give the airline sufficient capacity to absorb both organic network growth and the surge in demand expected around the world tournament.
