North African carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is to enhance its activities across the continent with the addition of Bissau to its network, the capital city of the West African country of Guinea-Bissau. RAM plans to offer two flights per week from December 13 incorporating the destination with an enhanced schedule to Conakry.
Under its proposed timetable one of these flights to Bissau will route via Conakry on the outbound leg from Morocco, the other on the return service to Casablanca. The airline already serves Conakry five times weekly, but with the addition of this new flight will now offer a daily connection.
Guinea-Bissau is one of the poorest states in Africa and the country's per-capita gross domestic product is one of the lowest in the world. More than two-thirds of the population is estimated to live below the poverty line and the economy depends mainly on exporting agriculture; fish, cashew nuts and ground nuts.
Its position has not been helped during recent years due to a sustained period of political instability, which has resulted in depressed economic activity, deteriorating social conditions, and increased macroeconomic imbalances.
With this information it seems rather strange to be launching a new air service to the country but RAM intends to take advantage of the limited air connections to establish itself in the market ahead of any economic recovery.
The city of Bissau is located on the Geba River estuary, off the Atlantic Ocean and is a major port, as well as administrative and military centre, meaning there is an established, albeit limited demand for flights.
The airline will serve Osvaldo Vieira International Airport and will be one of only four airlines to offer flights into the facility. TAP Portugal currently provides links to Lisbon, while Senegal Airlines serves neighboring Dakar and TACV offers flights to Praia via Dakar.
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