Royal Air Maroc

  1946 to present

  Morocco

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TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: AT / RAM

HEADQUARTERS: Casablanca, Morocco

FORMER NAMES: Air Atlas, Air Maroc, Compagnie Cherifienne de Transports Aeriens (CCTA)

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

Air Atlas (Compagnie Cherifienne de l'Air) was a public company founded in 1946 as a joint venture between Air France and the Moroccan government. It operated ten Ju52, a Nord NC702 Martinet, six Douglas DC3's and three MB161 Languedocs - all leased from Air France. Air Maroc (Societe Avia Maroc Ligne Aerienne) was a private company founded in 1947 which started operations in 1948. It operated six Douglas DC3's, four Commandos and thirteen SO30P Bretagnes.

In July 1953, the two companies merged to form CCTA (Compagnie Cherifienne de Transport Aerien). The fleet of the newly formed airline included six SO30P Bretagnes, four Commandos, five DC3's and two MB161 Languedocs. These aircraft worked on routes previously served by the predecessor companies, plus Frankfurt, Geneva and Paris.

The name Royal Air Maroc (RAM) was adopted on 28 June 1957, with the newly independent government of Morocco having a 67.73% stake. Hajj flights commenced in 1957. The carrier's fleet comprised 16 aircraft by April 1958, including four DC4s, three DC3s, seven SNCASO Bretagnes and two Commandos. In May 1958, the airline ordered two Caravelles. By July, a number of long-haul routes were launched using four Lockheed Constellations leased from Air France, and the coastal Oran–Oujda run — which had been suspended in May — was reopened. Also in 1958, the carrier started flying to Gibraltar. The arrival of the Constellations enabled the airline to withdraw the DC4s from service.

Royal Air Maroc remains today Morocco's national flag carrier, and a major player in Africa's airline market.

March 1952* to 1960

Air Maroc operated four Commandos, later passed on to CCTA. There were only two remaining by the time Royal Air Maroc was formed in 1957. They remained on the fleet until at least mid-1958, but had been withdrawn from use by mid-1960.

• Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando: F-OAFI (probably leased from Aigle Azur Maroc)
• Curtiss C-46E-1-CS Commando: F-DAAR
• Other Commandos: F-OAFJ (Palas), F-BESN