Morocco chosen for conversion of Boeing 777-300ER aircraft

Boeing 777 - 300 model inside a hangar at Frankfurt Airport - Depositphotos
An American business consortium has decided that the city of Casablanca will be the site for the conversion of the new Boeing 777-300ERs 
  1. STRATOS will build three hangars
  2. Morocco's relentless aviation development

The formal collaboration aims to combine the unique strengths and capabilities of Morocco's fast-growing aerospace industry with KMC's 777-300ER P2F engineering and certification capabilities and IAA's aerospace engineering, certification and programme management skills. 

Cockpit of a Boeing model 777-300ER aircraft - Depositphotos

La colaboración formal tiene como objetivo combinar las fortalezas y capacidades únicas de la industria aeroespacial de rápido crecimiento de Marruecos con las capacidades de ingeniería y certificación del 777-300ER P2F de KMC y las habilidades de ingeniería, certificación y gestión de programas aeroespaciales de IAA.

The project includes the production development of the 777-300ER P2F at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, Morocco. STRATOS' main mission is to become the leading aerospace and defence company in Morocco and Africa, contributing to the aerospace and defence development strategy by investing in essential aerospace and defence technologies and services. 

Details of this major project are expected to be announced shortly after the joint venture receives all licences and permits related to the project, reports media outlet Rue20. 

Casablanca International Airport Mohamed V - PHOTO/AP

STRATOS will build three hangars

US-based STRATOS is to build three wide-body hangars in Morocco, allowing it to increase production of the KMK 777-300ER P2F to eight aircraft per year. 

The Moroccan project will enable KMC, STRATOS and IAA to meet growing global demand for 777-300ER freighters and customers in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The Morocco 777-300ER P2F project will be further expanded through the construction and operation of a paint hangar for wide-body aircraft. 

Boeing 777 - 300 ER of Kuwait Airlines - Depositphotos

STRATOS takes an integrated approach and has become a leading provider of regional aerospace engineering solutions and services, providing innovative solutions, engineering, manufacturing and MRO services to airlines, lessors and government special mission aircraft.

In turn, IAA specialises in providing engineering, certification and project management services to the aviation industry, providing these services for airport management, interior design and STC aircraft certification projects. 

IAA's leadership team has been involved in aircraft and airport design, certification and development projects ranging from 10 to 400 million dollars worldwide, including in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 

Morocco's relentless aviation development

It can be said that the aviation industry in Morocco is developing rapidly. According to the stock exchange, exports in the aviation sector in January 2024 amounted to more than 1.89 billion dirhams, 23% more than in the same month last year. 

Royal Air Maroc baggage check-in station - PHOTO/FILE

This development is explained by a 35.2 per cent increase in sales in the assembly segment, to 1.23 billion dirhams, and a 5.3 per cent increase in electrical wiring interconnection systems (EWIS), to 646 million dirhams (MDH). 

Royal Air Maroc offices in Rabat - REUTERS/JIHED ABIDELLAOUI

In addition, the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Investment and Exports (AMDIE) recently launched an investigation into Morocco's aviation supply chain. 

The objectives of the project are to identify installed capacity, identify missing links, identify key players in each sector, study growth forecasts and turnover, calculate the ecosystem integration index and the volume of procurement and research.