Morocco proposes collaboration with Spain and the United Kingdom for the manufacture of ‘air taxis’

Morocco is continuing with its industrial development plan in various sectors in order to continue on the path of modernisation embarked upon since the accession to the throne of King Mohammed VI. 

One of these areas is aeronautics. Morocco is developing its aeronautical components industry, positioning itself at the forefront of Africa with more than 150 companies in the sector with at least one factory on Moroccan territory. 

Within this field, the ‘air taxi’ sector is emerging strongly, a type of electric helicopter with vertical take-off and landing, in which Morocco also wants to play a leading role. 

The North African country intends to manufacture ‘air taxis’ thanks to a collaboration with Spain and the United Kingdom. The planned cooperation agreement is with the British company Vertical Aerospace and the Spanish company Aciturri Aerostructures. Vertical Aerospace is an aerospace manufacturer based in Bristol, England, which designs and builds zero-emission electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, and Aciturri Aerostructures is one of the leading companies in the aeronautical sector in Spain thanks to its contracts with Boeing, Rolls-Royce and Airbus. 

Vertical Aerospace wants to develop a strategic agreement with Aciturri for the manufacture of the structure of its eVTOL VX4. The launch of this type of service has already been announced in Spain, which could make journeys from Malaga to Marbella, Ronda or Ceuta and Melilla. Aciturri would be responsible for the design and supply of all the structural components of the aircraft in question and the engineering of key parts. 

This type of aircraft has a capacity for four passengers and one pilot, with a flight range of more than 150 kilometres and a cruising speed of 240 kilometres per hour. 

Morocco would join this project thanks to Aciturri's acquisition of GOAM Industrie, a Moroccan company specialising in high-precision components for aircraft engines based in Casablanca. 

Morocco is looking to participate in this emerging market, which offers many business opportunities for short-haul flights for leisure or even business.