Royal Air Maroc (RAM) became the first non-EU carrier to cancel services to Belgium because of the looming 12 March general strike. In a notice published on 9 March 2026, the Moroccan flag-carrier said flights AT 832/833 (Casablanca ⇄ Brussels) and AT 636/637 (Marrakech ⇄ Brussels) are cancelled and outlined flexible rebooking and refund options. Affected passengers may: 1) rebook free of charge on any RAM flight to Brussels within 15 days of the original date; 2) rebook on services to Amsterdam-Schiphol within three days; or 3) obtain a full refund. The airline specifically urged travellers *not* to go to the airport on 12 March and to process changes via its call-centre or point of sale. The move underscores how the Belgian strike ripple is spreading along North-South business corridors. Morocco-Belgium traffic is fuelled by diaspora visits and a growing volume of project travel linked to renewable-energy, aerospace and pharmaceutical partnerships. Travel-management companies estimate that 1,200 Belgian-bound seats will disappear on 12 March just on RAM services, not counting codeshares. RAM’s quick action contrasts with some European carriers that have adopted a “wait-and-see” stance, issuing travel waivers but holding off formal cancellations until 48 hours before departure. Analysts say RAM’s decisive communication may limit EU-mandated compensation exposure and protect onward-connection integrity for passengers transiting its Casablanca hub. For mobility teams, the message is clear: third-country airlines will align with the Belgian shutdown, and staff movements for mid-March should be redesigned around 11 or 13 March departure windows or nearby airports such as Amsterdam and Paris.
Source: Médias 24 (Morocco)
