Royal Air Maroc has officially resumed its longest regular non-stop flight, connecting Casablanca to Beijing Daxing. This route, which had briefly operated before the pandemic, is the airline’s only Asian destination outside the Middle East. The relaunch comes just a day after Shanghai Airlines introduced flights between Shanghai, Marseille, and Casablanca, strengthening air links between China and Morocco.
Casablanca to Beijing: Royal Air Maroc’s Longest Route
Covering 5,451 nautical miles (10,096 km), the Casablanca-Beijing Daxing route surpasses Royal Air Maroc’s second-longest route to São Paulo by a significant margin. However, the actual flight distance is even longer due to the airline’s decision to avoid Russian airspace, despite its continued operations to Moscow.
This makes it the second-longest non-stop flight between Africa and China, following Air China’s Johannesburg to Shenzhen service, which connects via Beijing Capital Airport. When considering all Africa-Asia non-stop flights, it ranks third, with Cathay Pacific’s Johannesburg to Hong Kong service also ahead.
Aircraft and Flight Schedule
Royal Air Maroc operates this long-haul service three times a week using its largest aircraft, the Boeing 787-9, which has a 302-seat capacity. The airline currently has 11 Boeing 787s, including both 787-8 and 787-9 variants. The latest two aircraft, CN-RHA and CN-RHB, were originally intended for WestJet before joining Royal Air Maroc’s fleet in late 2024.
Flight Timings (Local Time):
- Casablanca to Beijing Daxing (AT230) – Departure: 16:20 | Arrival: 11:55+1 (12h 35m)
- Beijing Daxing to Casablanca (AT231) – Departure: 13:55 | Arrival: 21:20 (14h 25m)
The schedule is designed to allow seamless connections for passengers traveling between China and Central/Western Africa, despite some transit times not being highly competitive compared to other options.
Why Beijing? The Growing Demand
According to data from the 12 months ending July 2024, the Casablanca-Beijing route had 26,400 round-trip passengers, making it the top Asian market for Royal Air Maroc. Other major destinations from Casablanca include:
- Shanghai – 26,200 passengers
- Guangzhou – 23,000 passengers
- Hong Kong – 17,800 passengers
Beijing serves as a crucial gateway for passengers traveling beyond Morocco, particularly to cities like Conakry, Lagos, Accra, Abidjan, Abuja, Freetown, and Luanda.
Despite São Paulo and Beijing being nearly the same distance apart as a theoretical direct flight, Royal Air Maroc does not focus on this market. The flights between Casablanca and Beijing operate on different days and follow a completely different schedule.
Royal Air Maroc’s Five Longest Routes
Here’s a look at Royal Air Maroc’s top five longest non-stop routes based on direct distance:
| Distance (Nautical Miles/KM) | Max Block Time | Route | Frequency & Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5,451 (10,096 km) | 14h 25m | Casablanca – Beijing Daxing | 3x weekly, Boeing 787-9 |
| 4,059 (7,517 km) | 9h 50m | Casablanca – São Paulo Guarulhos | 3x weekly, Boeing 787-8/787-9 |
| 3,785 (7,010 km) | 9h 55m | Rabat – Miami | Charter flight (February 2025), Boeing 787-9 |
| 3,755 (6,954 km) | 9h 15m | Casablanca – Miami | 3x weekly, Boeing 787-8/787-9 |
| 3,341 (6,188 km) | 8h 40m | Casablanca – Toronto | 3x weekly, Boeing 787-8/787-9 |
Strengthening Morocco-China Air Connectivity
The resumption of Royal Air Maroc’s Casablanca-Beijing route marks a significant milestone in strengthening Morocco-China relations. As trade, tourism, and business ties continue to grow between the two nations, this flight provides a crucial direct link, facilitating travel for business professionals, students, and tourists. With demand rising for flights between Morocco and China, Royal Air Maroc’s expansion in this sector positions it as a key player in Africa-Asia aviation connectivity.
