LEONARD NEILL ROYAL AIR Maroc (RAM) is planning a major expansion of routes into Africa which may give it new services into South Africa. The airline withdrew its direct Johannesburg-Casablanca service some years ago and has not serviced this country since. Now it has been chosen by the Gabon government to take a 51% share of Air Gabon International, which has a South African service. RAM also holds a 51% stake in Air Senegal which is linked to SAA. According to Moroccan transport minister Karim Ghalab the strategy is to consolidate the Casablanca hub as a platform for African traffic to Europe, Middle East and North America.
