Morocco is now home to North Africa’s largest business jet market, having nearly half of the region’s aircraft fleet, according to London-based aviation service provider, Ionic Aviation.
The country’s business jet market is especially impressive given its relatively small population of around 37 million people and a GDP of USD 145 billion.
Meanwhile, the region’s largest economy, Egypt, which boasts over 100 million people and a projected GDP of USD 395 billion in 2024 is in second place.
Tunisia and Algeria, where the business jet presence is minimal, have only three and five aircraft, respectively. Tunisia’s fleet is the oldest in the region with an average lifetime of 30 years.
Midsize and super-midsize jets dominate the North African market, comprising approximately 40% of all aircraft. Textron/Cessna leads the charge as the largest original equipment manufacturer (OEM), representing over 45% of the installed fleet, with models such as the Citation XLS/XLS+, Sovereign, and Mustang being particularly popular.
The region faces significant challenges in financing business aircraft. Persisting issues, such as aging fleets, security concerns, and a lack of transparency, tend to hinder the willingness of international asset-based lenders to invest.