Royal Air Maroc Launches Alicante-Casablanca Flights From April 2026

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) will add a new direct connection to North Africa this spring, with Royal Air Maroc (RAM) launching a service to Casablanca, Morocco. The route, set to begin in April 2026, marks another step in the airport's network growth and the airline's significant expansion into the Spanish market.

The new service strengthens connectivity between Spain's Costa Blanca region and Morocco's primary economic hub. This expansion is part of a broader strategic initiative by Royal Air Maroc to increase its footprint in Spain, driven by growing tourism and business travel, as well as preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.

Royal Air Maroc's Spanish Expansion

The Alicante-Casablanca route is a key component of RAM's plan to operate more than 80 weekly flights between Morocco and Spain. The carrier will ultimately serve nine Spanish airports, including major hubs like Madrid and Barcelona alongside regional destinations such as Valencia, Málaga, and now Alicante. According to a statement from Moroccan Ambassador to Spain, Karima Benyaich, "the launch of these new air routes reflects the strengthening of bilateral relations between Morocco and Spain."

To support this growth, RAM is undertaking an ambitious fleet expansion. The airline aims to increase its fleet from 62 aircraft to 200 aircraft by 2037. In the near term, the fleet is expected to reach 72 aircraft by the end of 2026. This aligns with the airline's long-term strategy to evolve from a regional carrier into a major transcontinental airline. Amine El Farissi, RAM's Vice President, stated, "We aim to increase our annual passenger traffic from 7.5 million to over 31 million by 2037."

In 2025, Royal Air Maroc transported nearly 480,000 passengers on its routes between the two countries, a figure set to increase substantially with the new services. The expansion includes several other routes launching in 2026:

• March: New services from Tetouan to Barcelona, Malaga, and Madrid.
• April: Direct flights between Casablanca and Bilbao.
• July: Connections from Tangier to Barcelona and Malaga.
• September: Routes from Tangier to Madrid and Nador to Barcelona.

Alicante Airport Growth

The new Casablanca service reinforces Alicante-Elche Airport's position as a key gateway in Spain. The airport ranked as Spain's sixth busiest by passenger volume in January 2026, having handled 1,106,689 passengers that month, its busiest January on record. This follows a record-breaking year in 2025, when the airport served 19.9 million passengers. The addition of the Royal Air Maroc service complements other recent network additions, such as a new Jet2.com route from London Gatwick commencing in March 2026.

Flights between Alicante and Casablanca will operate three times per week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. According to the reported schedule, the flight will depart Alicante at 1:10 p.m. and arrive in Casablanca at 2:40 p.m. local time. The return flight will leave Casablanca at 9:30 a.m., arriving back in Alicante at 12:10 p.m.

Why This Matters

In my view, this route launch is more than just another pin on the map. It exemplifies a smart, multi-faceted strategy by Royal Air Maroc. The airline is not just adding capacity; it is building a resilient point-to-point network that capitalizes on VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives), tourism, and business traffic, while strategically positioning itself for the massive influx of travelers expected for the 2030 World Cup. For Alicante, it diversifies its route map beyond its traditional European leisure markets, strengthening its status as a vital international airport in Spain.

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