From award categories to strategy reports, African carriers are too often lumped into the same box as mega-hub Gulf airlines – carriers operating on different scales, with different challenges. The result? African airlines are sidelined in the very regions they work hardest to connect.
Yassine Berrada, vice-president cargo at Royal Air Maroc is having none of this. He is putting his airline at the centre of African airfreight.
How do you feel about the term “Africa and the Middle East” as a single region in air cargo reports or conferences? What does that grouping miss?
We feel that the term “Africa and the Middle East” as a single region in air cargo discourse tends to oversimplify a diverse and complex set of markets, economic dynamics, and logistical realities. From our perspective at Royal Air Maroc Cargo, this regional grouping overlooks the unique developmental paths, trade patterns, and infrastructural capabilities present within Africa itself, and especially within North and Sub-Saharan Africa. As a proudly African airline with a strategic hub in Casablanca, we view Africa not as a monolith but as a vibrant and multi-layered continent with its own internal trade corridors and global connectivity ambitions. By grouping Africa with the Middle East, these nuances can be lost, diminishing the visibility of African carriers, underestimating the continent’s potential, and often leading to policy and investment decisions that do not fully reflect African priorities. Our role in connecting Africa to the world – through Europe, the Americas, and now China – positions us as more than a regional actor; we are an enabler of intercontinental trade with a distinctly African voice. Therefore, we advocate for Africa to be recognised on its own terms in cargo forums and reports, ensuring its specific challenges and opportunities are addressed directly.
What’s a common misunderstanding global cargo players have about operating in Africa?
A common misunderstanding global cargo players have about operating in Africa is the tendency to treat the continent as a single, uniform logistics environment. One recurring misconception is the assumption that standardised global practices can be applied seamlessly across African markets without adaptation. In reality, success in air cargo operations on the continent requires a nuanced, locally-informed approach. Global players often overlook the importance of building relationships with local stakeholders, understanding regional trade flows, and tailoring solutions to each market’s specific needs. At RAM Cargo, our operational model and experience across African routes give us the flexibility and insight to navigate these complexities effectively.
What are the hardest structural barriers your airline faces in growing intra-African cargo operations?
Africa is a continent of immense diversity, and each region offers its own set of opportunities and logistical considerations. From our perspective at Royal Air Maroc Cargo, growing intra-African cargo operations involves navigating a dynamic landscape where infrastructure, regulations, and trade flows differ from one country to another. While some markets are still developing aspects like cargo handling capacity, cold chain infrastructure, and harmonised customs procedures, others are making significant strides toward modernisation and connectivity.
Rather than viewing these as barriers, we see them as areas where tailored solutions and strong local partnerships are key. We address operational complexity by working closely with trusted regional stakeholders, adapting our processes to local conditions, and deploying digital tools that increase transparency and efficiency. Our Casablanca hub, with its advanced cargo facilities and strategic geographic position, enables us to connect these diverse markets and facilitate smooth transit across the continent.
As more governments and industry players invest in infrastructure and regulatory alignment, we are confident that intra-African trade will continue to expand. At Royal Air Maroc Cargo, we remain committed to supporting this growth through agile operations, regional collaboration, and a long-term vision for a stronger, more connected African logistics ecosystem.
How do you manage trade imbalances — where you fly full in one direction and light in the other?
Managing trade imbalances – where we fly full in one direction and lighter in the other—is a continuous operational and commercial challenge that we address through a combination of strategic planning, network optimisation, and partnerships. At Royal Air Maroc Cargo, we actively work to balance flows by leveraging our role as a hub carrier connecting Africa with Europe, the Americas, and Asia. For instance, cargo demand from Europe or Asia into Africa is often high—especially for manufactured goods, electronics, and pharmaceuticals—while outbound flows may be lighter or composed primarily of perishables, handicrafts, or raw materials. To mitigate these imbalances, we promote Moroccan and African exports through targeted commercial efforts, including supporting sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, and traditional industries with tailored cargo solutions. Additionally, we rely on partnerships with freight forwarders and GSAs to identify backhaul opportunities and consolidate shipments. Our digital platforms, such as the cargo.one booking system, also help improve visibility and responsiveness to last-minute demand. We optimise load factors by integrating cargo across our mixed passenger and freighter networks and making use of interline agreements to route lighter loads efficiently. While perfect balance isn’t always achievable, our flexible capacity planning and market-driven approach allow us to reduce inefficiencies and maintain the competitiveness of our cargo services in both directions.
Which African routes or regions are underserved today, and why?
Africa is a continent of vast potential, with many regions showing strong growth prospects for air cargo. At Royal Air Maroc Cargo, we see exciting opportunities emerging in Central and East Africa – particularly in countries like Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and parts of the Horn of Africa – where expanding urban centers and rising trade demand are creating new logistics needs. While some routes in these regions are still developing in terms of frequency and service levels, this reflects evolving infrastructure, diverse regulatory frameworks, and varying trade volumes.
As infrastructure continues to improve and regulatory cooperation advances, these areas will increasingly integrate into regional and global supply chains. At Royal Air Maroc Cargo, we are actively monitoring these developments and working closely with local stakeholders to identify where our network and expertise can add value. Our commitment is to support sustainable connectivity across the continent and to help unlock the full potential of Africa’s intra-regional and global trade flows.
Has your airline adapted any unique business models — such as multi-stop freighters, use of narrowbodies, or combining passenger and cargo services — to serve African markets?
Yes, at Royal Air Maroc Cargo, we have implemented several strategic business models designed to serve the unique and dynamic needs of African markets. One of our core approaches is the efficient combination of bellyhold capacity across our extensive passenger network with the use of a dedicated freighter aircraft – a Boeing 767-FF. This hybrid model allows us to offer both flexibility and frequency, while optimising operational efficiency across a broad and growing route network. With over 82 destinations served—including 27 in Africa – we are able to provide consistent access to key markets, supported by agile capacity planning and strong regional connectivity.
We also tailor our routing and scheduling to align with market-specific requirements across the continent. While we do not currently operate multi-stop freighter loops, we leverage the strategic position of our Casablanca hub to connect African destinations with global trade flows across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The use of widebody aircraft such as the Boeing 787 on long-haul routes enhances our uplift capabilities, especially for time-sensitive cargo. By integrating cargo operations into our passenger services and maintaining adaptable capacity across the network, we are able to meet the diverse logistics needs of our customers while scaling our services sustainably across Africa and beyond.
How important is local knowledge in maintaining reliability across your African network?
At Royal Air Maroc Cargo, we recognise that local knowledge is essential to maintaining reliability across our African network. With dedicated commercial teams based in Casablanca and supported by a wide network of General Sales and Service Agents (GSSAs), we ensure that our operations are aligned with regional market dynamics, regulations, and customer needs. This local expertise enables us to provide responsive service, efficient cargo handling, and tailored solutions for diverse shipments – from perishables to high-value goods – while upholding our commitment to quality and trust. By combining local market understanding with operational excellence, we strengthen our network’s reliability and reinforce our role as a leading cargo carrier across the continent.
What would make the biggest difference for African air cargo growth: infrastructure, regulation, financing, or something else?
At Royal Air Maroc Cargo, we believe that Africa’s air cargo growth will be most effectively accelerated through a combination of continued investment in infrastructure and the seamless integration of digital solutions across the logistics value chain. Many African countries are already advancing in areas such as cargo facilities, cold chain capabilities, and handling operations, and by building on this momentum, we can further enhance the continent’s role in global trade. At the same time, the adoption of smart digital tools – such as real-time tracking, e-booking platforms, and automated documentation systems – has the power to significantly improve operational efficiency and the overall customer experience. Our partnerships with platforms like cargo.one and CASS are examples of how technology can simplify access and increase transparency. When these developments are supported by harmonised regulatory frameworks and smart financing models, they collectively contribute to a robust, future-ready cargo ecosystem that supports Africa’s expanding trade ambitions.
Do you see more opportunity in intra-African trade or outbound international flows in the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, we see strong opportunity in both intra-African trade and outbound international flows, but intra-African trade represents the most immediate and strategic growth area. With our plans to expand our network across key African cities like Ndjamena, Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Tripoli, we will strengthen regional connectivity and supporting the movement of goods within the continent. This growth aligns with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is expected to significantly boost intra-African commerce. At the same time, outbound international flows – particularly to Europe, the Americas, and Asia – remain vital to our long-term strategy, and our Casablanca hub continues to serve as a critical gateway linking Africa to global markets. By building both segments in parallel, we are positioning Royal Air Maroc Cargo to drive and benefit from Africa’s growing role in global trade.
What kind of partnership or investment would truly move the needle for African cargo operations?
We believe that strategic partnerships focused on digitalisation, infrastructure development, and network synergies would have the greatest impact. At Royal Air Maroc Cargo, our collaborations with digital platforms like cargo.one and CargoAi have already enhanced booking efficiency, visibility, and customer experience across our network. Expanding such partnerships, especially those that integrate smart technologies for tracking, data analytics, and process automation, would be transformative for the continent. Additionally, investment in cargo infrastructure—such as temperature-controlled facilities, handling equipment, and regional logistics hubs—would significantly boost capacity and reliability. Finally, alliances with other carriers and logistics providers to optimise routes and interline connectivity would further strengthen Africa’s integration into global trade flows, enabling faster, more efficient cargo movement across borders.
