Casablanca – Airbus is significantly expanding its investment in Morocco, aiming to increase its production capacity to 75 aircraft per month by 2026. This strategic move underscores Morocco’s growing importance in Airbus’s global manufacturing network.

During a press visit to the Airbus Atlantic Maroc Composites factory, Patrick Derderian, Airbus Group’s Director of International Cooperation for Africa, emphasized Morocco’s pivotal role over the past 70 years, particularly in the last three decades. “Morocco is the industrial country on which we have heavily relied,” Derderian stated, highlighting the quality and development of local talent as evidenced by the fully Moroccan workforce at the facility.

Derderian reiterated Airbus’s strong commitment to Morocco, describing it as a strategic hub for the company’s African operations. This collaboration, based on mutual trust and shared expertise, aims to propel the Moroccan aviation industry to new heights.

Housni Faek, General Manager of Airbus Atlantic Maroc Composites, detailed the factory’s significant contributions. As a key player in manufacturing composite parts for the Airbus A320 series, the factory currently employs around 1,000 people and plans to hire an additional 200 in 2024. The facility, which spans 30,000 square meters with 17,000 square meters dedicated to production, specializes in a wide range of composite components, including cockpit liners, luggage boxes, trim parts, landing gear doors, and seat shells.

“These products are then shipped to France for assembly and distributed to international airlines,” Faek explained. He also noted that the factory is the sole supplier of A320 cockpits for the entire Airbus group, showcasing its operational excellence and the trust placed in it by customers.

Airbus’s expansion in Morocco aligns with its strategy to develop centers of excellence in key areas such as electronics, surface treatment, boilermaking, and assembly. The Moroccan aeronautical industry benefits from Airbus Atlantic Maroc Composites’ expertise, innovation, and commitment to excellence.

The factory’s achievements highlight the strategic importance of Moroccan companies to Airbus. Morocco remains a major partner for Airbus in Africa, with the Airbus Atlantic Maroc Composites subsidiary supporting the rapid development of Airbus’s order book, which stands at 7,762 aircraft.

Airbus’s presence in Morocco dates back to 1951 through Airbus Atlantic (formerly STELIA Aerospace Maroc), a wholly-owned subsidiary specializing in composite manufacturing and complex metal subassembly. In 2014, Airbus expanded its operations with a new 15,000-square-meter factory in the Midparc area to complement existing infrastructure and further develop local skills. Today, Airbus Atlantic Maroc employs 1,000 people across its facilities, reinforcing its commitment to the region’s industrial growth and development.

As Airbus looks to the future, its investment in Morocco enhances its production capabilities and strengthens the Moroccan aviation industry. This positions Morocco as a critical player in the global aerospace sector.