Royal Air Maroc will equip 41 aircraft with SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband, becoming the first airline in Africa to offer the low-earth-orbit connectivity service. The first installations are expected to be completed by early 2027.

The Moroccan flag carrier plans to provide the service free of charge to members of its Safar Flyer loyalty program, moving connectivity from a paid add-on to a tiered loyalty benefit — a model that ties inflight Wi-Fi directly to repeat-booking behavior on the carrier's Africa–Europe–North America network.

Which aircraft will be fitted?

Neither RAM nor SpaceX has disclosed the specific tail numbers or types slated for installation. The fleet structure, however, narrows the field considerably.

• The long-haul fleet comprises 13 Boeing 787s, split between the -8 and -9 variants — the natural candidates for a connectivity product aimed at intercontinental passengers.
• The narrowbody fleet counts 47 Boeing 737s: 27 737-800s and 20 737 MAX 8s.
• A further 14 MAX 8s remain on order, awaiting delivery.

Forty-one installations across a 787/737 fleet of 60 active mainline jets would cover the long-haul fleet entirely plus roughly two-thirds of the narrowbodies — or a comparable mix if some airframes are excluded. The delivery pipeline raises the possibility that new MAX 8s arrive with Starlink fitted at the factory or during induction, rather than through retrofits alone.

What does this mean for RAM's network strategy?

According to ch-aviation data, RAM operated 76 aircraft as of October 2026, a figure that includes VIP, cargo and inactive airframes. The Starlink deal signals the carrier's ambition to strengthen its position as a connector between Africa, Europe and North America, where free high-speed connectivity is increasingly table stakes against Gulf and European competitors.

The timing also tracks with RAM's stated expansion intentions. In April 2024, the airline confirmed it had launched a tender for up to 200 aircraft. No new orders have followed since then — a gap between fleet ambition and contracted metal that will determine how quickly the connectivity rollout scales beyond the initial 41 aircraft.

Free Wi-Fi as a loyalty lever

Restricting free Starlink access to Safar Flyer members gives RAM a measurable acquisition and retention tool rather than an undifferentiated amenity. For passengers, low-earth-orbit satellite service promises the low latency needed for streaming and real-time work — a tangible differentiator on long sectors where legacy satellite connectivity has drawn complaints.

For SpaceX, the agreement adds an African flag carrier to a customer list that continues to grow across airlines seeking flat-rate, high-bandwidth connectivity without the per-megabyte economics of older systems.

With installations targeted for completion by early 2027 and 14 MAX 8s still to join the fleet, RAM's rollout pace — and whether the 200-aircraft tender converts into firm orders — will define the scale of the program well beyond the initial commitment.