How Aviation, Tourism and African Pride Took Flight

From 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, Morocco hosted the 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) one of the continent’s most watched and celebrated sporting events  drawing fans, teams, officials and media from across Africa and beyond. While the host nation ultimately finished as runner-up in the final on 18 January 2026, the broader impact of the tournament on aviation, tourism and continental connectivity was unequivocal. At the heart of this story sits Royal Air Maroc (RAM), an airline whose evolution from national carrier to a strategic continental facilitator mirrors Morocco’s ambitious rise on the global stage. 

From its beginnings in 1957 as Morocco’s flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc has steadily expanded its footprint beyond its North African roots to become one of the most dynamic carriers on the continent. Based at Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, the airline’s network now spans Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas, supported by strategic investments, global partnerships such as its membership in the OneWorld alliance, and a calculated effort to align service offerings with demand. This global orientation has made Casablanca not only a gateway for Moroccan travellers but a hub for African connectivity. 

The AFCON tournament provided a catalyst for Morocco’s aviation and tourism sectors. In 2025, Morocco’s airports collectively handled a record 36.3 million passengers, up from 32.7 million in 2024, a surge driven in part by the influx of visitors attending AFCON matches and related events. At Mohammed V International, RAM’s home base, passenger traffic exceeded 11.5 million, a historic milestone and nearly a 10 percent year-on-year increase attributed largely to the tournament’s demands and expanded air services. 

This aviation momentum coincided with a record-breaking tourism year for Morocco, as the country recorded approximately 19.8 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, a 14 percent increase over the previous year and its highest figure ever. Tourism revenues exceeded $13 billion, buoyed by not only traditional leisure travel but also the attention and global exposure generated by AFCON, which officials said helped accelerate broader goals of destination marketing and visitor experience enhancement. 

Importantly, the ripple effects extended beyond airport arrivals and hotel bookings. According to industry and government data, close to 600,000 foreign visitors traveled specifically to Morocco for AFCON, injecting immediate demand into transport services, hospitality, dining and local commerce, and helping sustain thousands of jobs across several sectors. Investments made in stadiums, airports and transport infrastructure ahead of the tournament are also expected to serve Morocco well as it prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, effectively turning short-term event demand into long-term capacity. 

For Royal Air Maroc, these developments were more than incidental. As the principal airline connecting North Africa with the rest of the continent and the world, RAM played an active role in facilitating travel for fans and teams, strengthening existing routes and adding capacity where needed to meet demand surges. Airlines across the region — including RAM — increased frequencies and introduced special schedules, connecting cities such as Paris, London, Madrid, Lagos, Dakar, Cairo and Johannesburg to Moroccan venues. In doing so, RAM and its partners demonstrated aviation’s power to support continental events that foster unity and economic activity. 

Even though Morocco did not lift the AFCON trophy, the nation and by extension its aviation sector emerged a winner in terms of tourism and global visibility. The successful hosting of Africa’s premier football tournament showcased the country’s organisational capacity, hospitality infrastructure and travel readiness, effectively positioning Morocco as a model for how African destinations can leverage sport, culture and connectivity for economic transformation. The growth in air traffic and tourism suggests that aviation is not just supporting travel it is helping to reshape Morocco’s international image as a dynamic bridge between continents. 

Royal Air Maroc’s role in this story cannot be understated. By facilitating millions of journeys into and out of Morocco during a period of intense global interest, RAM reinforced its position as an airline that does more than move passengers it connects people, cultures and opportunities. Its evolving network strategy, fleet modernisation efforts, and alignment with national tourism and infrastructure priorities reflect not only commercial ambition but a deeper engagement with Africa’s future.

As the dust settles on AFCON 2025/2026 and Morocco continues its preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, the aviation gains from record passenger numbers to heightened global interest  suggest that the legacy of this AFCON extends well beyond the pitch. It represents a moment when aviation, tourism and continental pride came together, demonstrating that Africa’s carriers and countries can not only host the world but also thrive through connectivity, strategy and shared purpose.