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Airbus is strengthening its long-standing relationship with Morocco, marking a new chapter in its partnership through expanded industrial operations, key acquisitions, and the launch of a representative office in Rabat. The European aerospace leader is elevating Morocco to a pivotal role within its global growth strategy.
“Morocco is more than just a market—it’s a strategic ally,” stated Gabriel Semelas, President of Airbus Africa and Middle East, emphasizing the country’s significance in the company’s future. He highlighted Airbus’s intent to enhance its industrial presence by leveraging Morocco’s skilled workforce and aligning with the national development vision.
A major step in this strategy was the April acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems’ facility in Nouaceur. The site, which manufactures essential components like wing leading edges for the A220 and spars for the A321, joins two other Airbus Atlantic factories in the region. Together, they form an expanding aerospace cluster that supports over 1,000 direct jobs and nearly 10,000 indirect ones.
In parallel, Airbus Helicopters is growing its footprint in Morocco by establishing a customer support center set to become a regional hub for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services in West Africa. Plans are also underway to open a training center equipped with simulators.
The newly inaugurated office in Rabat reflects Airbus’s intent to stay close to institutional partners. “This was a logical move,” noted Mickaël Bertrand, Airbus’s Morocco Country Representative, underlining the company’s key role in the national aerospace ecosystem.
Airbus collaborates with more than 100 Moroccan suppliers and partners with institutions such as IMA, ISMALA, and GIMAS, reinforcing its investment in local talent and industry development. Morocco accounts for nearly 70% of Airbus’s regional aerospace activity.
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The decision to intensify operations in Morocco is supported by decades of trust, political stability, a competitive business climate, and a highly skilled workforce. With ambitious goals to increase annual air passenger traffic to 60 million by 2030 and 95 million by 2035, and Royal Air Maroc’s plan to acquire 200 new aircraft, the country’s aviation sector is booming.
As the sector now contributes 8% to the national GDP and has grown by 68% over the past ten years, Airbus’s expanding presence further anchors Morocco as a cornerstone of its global operations, driving job creation, industrial growth, and technological advancement.
