Royal Air Maroc acquires new Boeing aircraft

RABAT, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Moroccan flag carrier Royal Air Maroc said on Tuesday it took delivery of a 737-800 Boeing plane as part of a plan to expand its fleet.

The airline will add another 737-800 Boeing jet next month and a third similar aircraft in October to beef up its Boeing-dominated fleet to 43 jets, it added.

Royal Air Maroc has a $2.0 billion investment plan to buy 29 new planes for the 2007-2013 period.

The government wants to increase tourist numbers to 10 million by 2010 from 7.4 million last year and is encouraging the expansion of air transport, including low-cost flights, to spur holidaymaker arrivals.

Morocco signed an Open Skies agreement with the European Union in 2006 to open its air travel business to new airline competitors, including low-budget carriers such as Ryanair (RYA.I: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and easyJet (EZJ.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz). (Reporting by Lamine Ghanmi; Editing by David Holmes)