Royal Air Maroc is set to make aviation history on the United States West Coast, announcing it will launch the first nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Casablanca in June 2026.

The new transatlantic route, which begins service on June 7, 2026, will connect Southern California directly with Morocco and, by extension, Royal Air Maroc’s growing African network, offering travelers an 11 to 12 hour nonstop link between the Pacific Coast and North Africa.

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The Los Angeles Casablanca service marks the first direct air connection between the African continent and the U.S. Pacific Coast, a milestone that aviation observers have long anticipated.

While Royal Air Maroc has steadily expanded its North American footprint over the past decade, its operations have until now focused on gateways such as New York, Washington, Miami, Montreal and Toronto. The move into Los Angeles signals a strategic push to tap into the vast West Coast market and to position Casablanca as a true transcontinental hub.

Royal Air Maroc has framed the new service as more than an additional dot on its route map, calling it a historic step for African air connectivity and a sign of Morocco’s rising prominence in global travel flows.

By linking Los Angeles directly with Casablanca, the airline is effectively creating a new bridge between North America’s Pacific Rim and dozens of onward destinations across Africa, the Middle East and Europe that can be reached via short connections at Mohammed V International Airport.

The route also strengthens Morocco’s ambitions to be seen as a premier aviation crossroads between continents. Moroccan authorities have invested heavily in infrastructure and tourism promotion in recent years, with air transport at the center of a national strategy aimed at attracting both leisure and business travelers from key source markets, including the United States.

Schedule, Aircraft and Onboard Experience

Royal Air Maroc will operate the Los Angeles Casablanca flights three times per week, using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft configured for long haul comfort. According to the airline’s published schedule, flights will run on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, offering a consistent pattern aimed at both leisure travelers planning longer stays and business passengers seeking predictable weekly options.

From Casablanca, flight AT250 is scheduled to depart at 4:00 a.m. local time and arrive at Los Angeles International Airport at 8:20 a.m. the same day. The early morning departure from Morocco allows passengers from other African and European cities to connect through Casablanca during the night bank and arrive in California in time to start the business day or continue onward to domestic U.S. destinations.

In the west to east direction, flight AT251 will leave Los Angeles at 10:20 a.m., arriving in Casablanca at 5:25 a.m. the following day. The timing positions the flight to feed into Royal Air Maroc’s extensive morning departure wave from Casablanca, giving travelers options to continue to cities across West, Central and North Africa, as well as European destinations served by the Moroccan carrier.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet Royal Air Maroc deploys on its long haul routes is known for fuel efficiency and passenger friendly cabin features. Travelers on the Los Angeles route can expect modern interiors, improved cabin pressurization and humidity levels compared with older widebodies, individual inflight entertainment screens, and a choice of cabin classes tailored to both premium and economy market segments.

Targeting Diaspora Travelers, Tourists and World Cup Fans

The timing of the Los Angeles Casablanca launch is closely linked to a surge in expected travel demand linked to major sporting events and growing cross border ties. The service begins less than a month before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada and is expected to drive a sharp uptick in transatlantic and intercontinental travel.

Royal Air Maroc has said the route is designed to serve multiple overlapping markets. These include the sizable Moroccan and wider African diaspora communities living in California and neighboring states, as well as American leisure travelers interested in visiting Morocco’s cities, deserts and coastal resorts.

Business travelers are another key segment, particularly those with interests in sectors such as tourism, energy, automotive production and aerospace, where ties between Morocco and North America have been strengthening.

World Cup related demand is expected to be particularly strong. The airline is positioning Casablanca as a convenient hub for supporters from Morocco, elsewhere in Africa and across Europe who will travel to the United States for matches. By offering a direct West Coast entry point, Royal Air Maroc can route fans closer to host cities in the western and central United States, while also relieving pressure on East Coast gateways that typically handle most transatlantic traffic.

Royal Air Maroc executives have described the Los Angeles route as a key asset in the run up to another global football showcase: the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co host with Spain and Portugal. The airline sees the growing visibility of Moroccan tourism and sports on the world stage as complementary drivers of demand for its long haul network.

Casablanca’s Growing Role as a Transcontinental Hub

The new service underlines Casablanca’s evolution from a regional gateway into a full scale intercontinental hub. For Royal Air Maroc, whose strategy revolves around funnelling traffic between Africa, Europe and the Americas through its home base, adding a West Coast U.S. point significantly broadens its connectivity proposition.

Passengers flying from Los Angeles will be able to connect in Casablanca to destinations across North and West Africa that remain underserved by other carriers from the United States. This includes cities in countries such as Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Ghana, as well as further afield across the airline’s network. For travelers in the other direction, the route offers African passengers a one stop link to the technology, entertainment and trade hubs of Southern California.

Moroccan authorities have been explicit about their ambitions to scale up passenger capacity and transform Casablanca into a high volume global hub. Airport expansion projects, combined with an aggressive fleet and network growth plan at Royal Air Maroc, are designed to position the country to handle tens of millions more travelers in the coming decade.

The Los Angeles link is described by industry analysts as a symbol of that ambition, serving both as a destination route in its own right and as a feeder for onward connections.

The West Coast expansion also places Royal Air Maroc more firmly in competition with European and Gulf carriers that currently dominate traffic flows between North America and Africa. By offering a nonstop option, the airline can compete on total travel time and convenience, particularly for passengers who prefer to avoid additional layovers in Europe or the Middle East.

Fleet Expansion and Strategic Growth for Royal Air Maroc

The decision to open a long haul route to Los Angeles fits into a broader, multi year development plan for Royal Air Maroc that centers on significant fleet growth and network diversification. The carrier has outlined ambitions to sharply increase the number of aircraft it operates over the next decade, focusing on both narrowbody jets for regional routes and widebody aircraft suitable for long haul services to the Americas, Europe and Asia.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has become a backbone of the airline’s intercontinental operations, used on services to destinations such as New York, Miami, Washington and São Paulo. Deploying the same aircraft type to Los Angeles allows Royal Air Maroc to benefit from operational commonality and to manage costs more efficiently while offering a consistent onboard product across its long haul network.

Industry observers note that Royal Air Maroc’s move into the U.S. West Coast market also reflects heightened competition among global carriers to secure valuable long haul city pairs ahead of the travel boom expected around the 2026 and 2030 World Cups. By locking in airport slots and building brand recognition in Los Angeles well before those events, the Moroccan flag carrier aims to secure a durable foothold in one of the world’s most competitive aviation markets.

At the same time, the airline continues to increase frequencies on other long haul routes, including to major business and tourism destinations. This dual strategy of opening new gateways like Los Angeles while densifying existing routes is seen as key to elevating Royal Air Maroc from a regional player to a globally recognized network carrier.

Opportunities for Tourism and Trade Between California and Morocco

Tourism boards and travel industry stakeholders in both Morocco and California are already highlighting the potential benefits of the new nonstop connection. For American travelers, particularly those based on the West Coast, the flight reduces the complexity of reaching Morocco, which often required transfers in European hubs. The ability to fly directly from Los Angeles is expected to make Moroccan destinations more appealing for vacations, cultural trips and adventure travel.

Morocco’s tourism offering spans historic imperial cities such as Marrakech and Fes, Atlantic beach resorts, the Atlas Mountains and Saharan desert landscapes, all of which are within reach via domestic connections from Casablanca. The new route simplifies itinerary planning for tour operators and independent travelers alike, who can now build trips starting and ending in Los Angeles without additional international transfers.

On the trade side, the direct link may support increased business exchanges between Moroccan and Californian companies. Sectors such as renewable energy, film and media, technology services, agriculture and aerospace are viewed as particularly promising. Morocco has attracted foreign investment in manufacturing and services that can benefit from faster and more reliable air links to the western United States.

Travel agencies, corporate travel managers and tourism partners in both markets are expected to closely watch booking trends as the launch date approaches. The three weekly frequency leaves room for future growth if demand proves strong, and industry sources say additional frequencies or seasonal adjustments could be considered over time.

Booking, Connectivity and Competitive Landscape

Royal Air Maroc has opened reservations for the Los Angeles Casablanca route through its usual sales channels, including the airline’s website, call centers, ticket offices and partner travel agencies. The carrier is promoting the service as a key transatlantic option for passengers seeking one stop or nonstop links between West Coast U.S. cities and African destinations.

From Los Angeles, travelers will also have the ability to connect onto other U.S. domestic flights operated by partner airlines, creating an extended virtual network that links secondary cities to Casablanca and beyond. Conversely, passengers originating in smaller African markets served by Royal Air Maroc will gain practical one stop access to a wider range of American destinations through the Los Angeles gateway.

The competitive landscape on routes between North America and Africa has been shifting as African carriers, Middle Eastern airlines and European network carriers vie for market share. With the Los Angeles launch, Royal Air Maroc distinguishes itself by offering a unique nonstop pairing not currently served by other airlines. Industry analysts say the route could stimulate new demand rather than simply divert passengers from existing services via other hubs.

Pricing strategies will be closely observed in the months leading up to June 2026. The mix of World Cup related travel, diaspora traffic and leisure tourism may produce pronounced seasonal peaks, and airfare levels will likely reflect how quickly the market embraces the new connection. Royal Air Maroc is expected to use promotional fares initially to build awareness and secure early bookings from both individual travelers and tour operators.

FAQ

Q1. When will Royal Air Maroc’s nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Casablanca begin?
The airline plans to launch the new route on June 7, 2026, with the inaugural nonstop service linking Los Angeles International Airport and Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport.

Q2. How often will Royal Air Maroc operate the Los Angeles Casablanca flights?
The carrier will operate three roundtrip flights per week, with services scheduled on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays in both directions.

Q3. What are the planned departure and arrival times for the new route?
From Casablanca, flight AT250 is scheduled to depart at 4:00 a.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 8:20 a.m. local time. From Los Angeles, flight AT251 is set to leave at 10:20 a.m. and land in Casablanca at 5:25 a.m. the following day.

Q4. Which aircraft will Royal Air Maroc use on the Los Angeles Casablanca route?
The airline will deploy Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on the route, using its long haul configured 787 8 fleet that is already in service on other transatlantic and intercontinental routes.

Q5. How long is the flight between Los Angeles and Casablanca?
The westbound and eastbound flights are scheduled for approximately 11 to 12 hours of nonstop flying time, depending on direction, routing and seasonal wind conditions.

Q6. Why is this route considered historic for Royal Air Maroc and African aviation?
The service represents the first ever nonstop connection between Africa and the U.S. Pacific Coast, expanding direct transatlantic access for African travelers and reinforcing Casablanca’s role as a hub linking Africa with North America.

Q7. Who is the new Los Angeles Casablanca route aimed at?
Royal Air Maroc is targeting multiple passenger segments, including the Moroccan and African diasporas in the western United States, American tourists, business travelers, and fans traveling to North America for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Q8. Will passengers be able to connect onward from Casablanca to other destinations?
Yes. The schedule is designed so that arrivals from Los Angeles feed into Royal Air Maroc’s morning departure bank at Casablanca, offering connections to cities across North, West and Central Africa, as well as to selected European destinations.

Q9. How can travelers book tickets on the new route?
Tickets are available through Royal Air Maroc’s standard sales channels, including its online booking platform, customer service call centers, physical sales offices and a network of partner travel agencies in both North America and abroad.

Q10. Could the frequency of the Los Angeles Casablanca flights increase in the future?
The airline has started with three weekly frequencies, and industry observers note that Royal Air Maroc could consider additional flights or seasonal adjustments if demand on the route proves consistently strong after its launch.