Casablanca–Luanda Air Link Launched as Royal Air Maroc Expands into Southern Africa

Royal Air Maroc Airplane. Image Credit: RAM

Morocco marks a significant step in strengthening its air connectivity across Africa with the launch, starting February 2, of regular Royal Air Maroc (RAM) flights to Luanda. The service will operate from Angola’s new António Agostinho Neto International Airport, positioning the Moroccan carrier among the first foreign airlines to begin regular international operations at the new hub.

According to Angolan authorities, “as of February 2, António Agostinho Neto International Airport will receive regular flights from Royal Air Maroc, Turkish Airlines, and ASKY Airlines, marking the effective international opening of the airport.” This transition includes the transfer of relevant operations from the long-serving Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport, previously Luanda’s main gateway.

Casablanca Confirmed as a Strategic Air Hub

The new Royal Air Maroc route establishes a direct air link between Luanda and Casablanca, connecting the Angolan capital to one of Africa’s leading aviation hubs. The same source notes that “the airlines involved are operating direct connections between Luanda and Casablanca, Istanbul, and Lomé,” providing passengers with broad access to African, European, and Middle Eastern networks.

Flights arriving from Casablanca are scheduled to land in Luanda at 6:10 a.m. local time. From Casablanca, travelers can continue onward to major destinations, including Johannesburg, as well as hundreds of cities served by Royal Air Maroc’s global network. This configuration reinforces Casablanca’s role as a key crossroads linking Southern Africa to the rest of the continent and beyond.

The opening of this route coincides with the gradual expansion of commercial operations at Angola’s new airport, following an initial phase focused on domestic flights.

Angola’s New Airport and the Reshaping of Regional Air Traffic

The António Agostinho Neto International Airport was officially inaugurated on November 10, 2023. Designed to handle up to 15 million passengers per year, the facility is capable of accommodating very large aircraft, including the Airbus A380. While the international opening was initially planned for June 2024, it was postponed to allow the completion of all technical and operational systems.

Passenger operations began on November 10, 2024, with domestic routes, notably to Cabinda. The transition of international flights then accelerated. According to Angolan authorities, “the national carrier TAAG completed the transfer of all its international routes from Quatro de Fevereiro Airport to the new airport in September and October 2025,” covering destinations such as Lisbon, São Paulo, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lagos, Windhoek, São Tomé, Maputo, and Nairobi.

This shift continued with the arrival of European carriers. TAP Air Portugal moved its Lisbon–Luanda services on December 1, 2025, followed by Air France. The launch of Royal Air Maroc flights, alongside Turkish Airlines and ASKY Airlines, completes this phase of the airport’s international opening.

Now designated as Angola’s primary international gateway, the new airport replaces Quatro de Fevereiro, which has been reassigned to executive aviation, maintenance operations, and non-commercial uses. For Morocco, Royal Air Maroc’s presence on this route further confirms Casablanca’s position as a major hub connecting Southern Africa with African and intercontinental air networks.