The recent announcement of the opening of new direct air links between Casablanca and Shanghai, one of the most important global financial centers in China, has indeed consolidated Sino-Moroccan relations. China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines are preparing to connect these two hubs, with respective frequencies of 7 weekly flights for China Eastern, and 5 weekly flights for Shanghai Airlines, including a stopover in Marseille for the latter.
These new connections are part of an air expansion strategy that meets a growing demand for mobility between China and North Africa and also reflects China’s ambition to extend its economic and tourist influence in Morocco while facilitating trade between the two countries.
Of course, Morocco, as a gateway to Africa, is of strategic importance to China, whose investments in the continent have increased considerably over the last two decades. The direct link between Shanghai and Casablanca will therefore facilitate trade, particularly in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and new technologies.
China is already one of Morocco’s major trading partners, with trade reaching several billion dollars annually. The increased accessibility that these flights provide will then contribute to an intensification of economic relations, allowing Chinese companies to better establish themselves in Morocco, and Moroccan companies to seize more opportunities in the vast Chinese market.
Furthermore, this connection will strengthen Morocco’s role as a logistics hub for Africa, as part of the Moroccan strategy “Industrial Acceleration Plan 2021-2025”. As Morocco’s main port, Casablanca could see an increase in the volume of exports of agricultural products, textiles, and phosphates, key sectors of the Moroccan economy.
Morocco, with its rich heritage and attractive geographical location, has long been a popular destination for tourists from around the world. China, for its part, is one of the largest sources of tourists in the world. The opening of these new airlines could therefore also boost the Moroccan tourism sector.
In 2016, as a reminder, Morocco removed visas for Chinese nationals, which led to a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists. With these new connections, the country will be able to strengthen its attractiveness to this market, by offering smoother and more frequent connections. Since the establishment of the “New Silk Road” or “Belt and Road Initiative”, Morocco has expressed its interest in being a strategic partner of China in this regard.
Despite the promising economic outlook, the opening of these new air links also poses some logistical challenges. The airport infrastructures of Casablanca and Shanghai will have to cope with an increase in the number of passengers and goods that ONDA should take seriously.
The inclusion of Marseille in the Shanghai Airlines route opens up interesting prospects in terms of synergies between the European, African, and Asian markets. Marseille is already a key logistics center for trade between Europe and North Africa. This direct connection between Shanghai, Marseille, and Casablanca could strengthen triangular trade, facilitating Chinese flows in Europe and Morocco.
Beyond the immediate benefits in terms of tourism and trade, these new links open the way to enhanced cooperation in strategic sectors for both nations.
