Royal Air Maroc is to launch a regional turboprop subsidiary in March 2009.
Driss Benhima, president of the Moroccan flag carrier, explained the airline's plan to Flight International at the World Air Transport Forum in Paris. "We launched a tender to acquire eight aircraft this week," said Benhima. The new carrier, Atlas Inter, will operate eight 70-seat turboprops.
The airline will start with dry-leased aircraft and build a domestic network of routes using the Royal Air Maroc brand and sold through its regular sales channels. Atlas Inter will, however, be a separate company designed as a "low-cost regional operator", says Benhima.
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Its aim will be to cut the $6 million annual losses Royal Air Maroc suffers on its regional routes, where air fares are often low. Benhima says Atlas Inter will be budgeted to produce a break-even result.
Source: Flight International
