Today, thanks to the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco's aviation industry is distinguished by its flexibility, competitiveness, and future-oriented vision.

It not only establishes itself as a strategic pillar of the Kingdom's industrial policy but also as a showcase for Moroccan expertise, combining technological excellence, training, innovation, and sustainability.

From Casablanca to Tangier, particularly thanks to the Safran Group's aircraft engine complex, whose construction work was inaugurated by His Majesty the King on Monday in Nouaceur, this industry continues to write a success story that positions Morocco as a reliable global partner, prepared to meet the challenges of the aviation sector in the future.

In addition to its industrial performance, this sector is fully aligned with the Kingdom's strategic directions in the areas of sustainability and innovation.

Morocco's aviation industry is keeping pace with the challenges of the global aviation industry by incorporating Industry 4.0 principles, improving processes, digitizing production chains, and reducing its carbon footprint.

Moroccan aeronautics achieved a world-class aviation platform

In less than 25 years, thanks to the enlightened vision of His Majesty the King, Morocco has achieved a world-class aviation platform, enabling the Kingdom to join the closed circle of leading aviation nations. The first steps in this success came in 1958, when Royal Air Maroc opened its maintenance workshops in Casablanca, laying the foundations for national expertise in aircraft maintenance.

In 1999, thanks to a royal will to diversify the national economy and attract leading global industry professionals, Royal Air Maroc collaborated with SNECMA—now known as Safran—to create SNECMA Maroc Engine Services (SMES), subsequently renamed Safran Aircraft Engine Services Morocco.

Two years later, the creation of Matis Aerospace, a joint venture between Safran, Boeing, and Royal Air Maroc, marked the Kingdom's entry into the aerospace sector.

This facility, dedicated to the manufacture of belts and wiring systems, enabled Morocco to integrate the supply chain of the world's largest manufacturers and lay the foundations for a competitive industrial fabric.

Moroccan aeronautics reached Morocco's global profession status

The year 2004 marked a structural turning point with the launch of the Escape Plan, which elevated the aviation industry to the status of "Morocco's global profession" and positioned the Kingdom as a respected partner for major international donors.

Two years later, the Moroccan Aerospace Industries Group (GIMAS) was created to support the development and structuring of the Moroccan aviation industry platform.

During the same period, Safran strengthened its position by launching several subsidiaries, including Safran Electrical & Power Morocco (Rabat-Ain Atig), specializing in the manufacture of electrical belts; Safran Nassile Morocco (Nouaceur), specializing in composite structures and aircraft fuselages; and Safran Engineering Services Morocco (Casablanca), which strengthens the engineering and design dimension.

With the launch of the National Charter for Industrial Escape in 2009, Morocco affirmed its desire to make the aviation industry a strategic lever for industrial development.

In this context, the Institute of Aviation Professions was established on May 6, 2011, in Casablanca, as the result of a public-private partnership to train highly qualified technicians, meeting the needs and standards of professionals in this industry.

In September 2013, His Majesty the King inaugurated the Institute specializing in aviation professions and airport logistics, emphasizing the importance of developing human capital as a fundamental pillar of the sector's competitiveness.

Industrial acceleration zone to accelerate the aerospace industry toward new horizons

The opening of Midparc Casablanca, an industrial acceleration zone dedicated to the aviation sector, embodying an integrated vision that combines modern infrastructure with economic attractiveness, also marked the year 2013.

This distinguished hub, created by royal decree, is today a benchmark for major companies such as Safran, Spirit Aerosystems, Hexcel, Airbus, Pratt & Whitney, and Thales. Under royal leadership, the Industrial Acceleration Plan, launched in 2014, will consolidate gains and propel the aerospace industry toward new horizons.

By restructuring the industrial ecosystem (engines, wiring, assembly, engineering, maintenance and repair, and vehicles), this strategy promotes local integration, increases added value, and develops a competitive national supply chain.

At the same time, Airbus is strengthening its presence in Morocco by developing new industrial and engineering capabilities. Its subsidiary, Airbus Atlantic, is strengthening the production of aircraft structures and high-value-added components at the Nouaceur site.

In September 2016, a historic achievement was achieved with the signing of a memorandum of understanding, chaired by His Majesty the King, regarding the establishment of a Boeing industrial ecosystem in Morocco.

This agreement, signed between the Kingdom and the American giant, stipulates the establishment of an integrated industrial platform aimed at attracting the manufacturer's main suppliers to Morocco. The following years saw the establishment of new world-class players and the expansion of existing ones, including Thales 3D Maroc, TDM Aerospace, Hexcel, Spirit Aerosystems, SABCA Maroc, Hutchinson, Figeac Aero, Achille, and Trelleborg.

In 2021, SABCA and Pilatus signed a major contract for the semi-final assembly of the airframes in Casablanca for the PC-12 program, the Swiss manufacturer's best-selling aircraft.