Royal Air Maroc announced on Thursday, Dec. 11, that a new flight route linking Casablanca (CMN), Morocco, to Los Angeles (LAX), U.S., will begin operations on June 7, 2026, with three weekly flights. The new service comes as demand is rising for intercontinental travel to North America, set to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Football drives the demand
Hosted jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the popular football competition will begin on June 11 – four days after the new route’s first flight takes off – and feature Los Angeles as one of the host cities.
The expansion is also seen as a strategic move ahead of the 2030 World Cup, to be hosted by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
Hamid Addou, chairman and CEO of Royal Air Maroc, said in a statement:
This direct route to Los Angeles is much more than a new destination, it marks a historic milestone for Royal Air Maroc and for air connectivity across the African continent.
It embodies our ambition to bring Morocco closer to major global economic, tourism, and cultural hubs while supporting the kingdom’s momentum of global engagement.
Operating on a Boeing 787, the intercontinental route will connect the two cities in under 12 hours. Departing from Casablanca on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 4:00 a.m., the flights will land in Los Angeles at 8:20 a.m., then depart at 10:20 a.m. and return to Casablanca at 5:25 a.m. the following day.
Tickets are already available, with prices starting at 803.42 euros.
Morocco as an international hub
The air link to Los Angeles will be Royal Air Maroc’s first nonstop connection to the U.S. Pacific Coast, and the airline’s sixth destination in North America, adding to New York, Washington, D.C., Miami, Toronto, and Montreal.
Since Ethiopian Airlines ceased service to Los Angeles in 2019, Royal Air Maroc will now become the only passenger carrier directly connecting Africa to the U.S. West Coast.
Meant to serve African diasporas, American tourists, business travellers, and football fans, the new route comes as Royal Air Maroc seeks to strengthen Casablanca’s position as an international hub between Africa, Europe and America.
Are you a football fan? Will the new route help you attend the 2026 and 2030 World Cups? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
