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Royal Air Maroc has signed a preliminary co-operation agreement with El Al, which will explore the possibility of codeshare services. The agreement is the latest aviation manifestation of last year’s diplomatic recognition pacts between Israel and several Arab states. RAM says the memorandum of understanding with El Al will enable the two carriers to look at codeshares on trunk routes between their hubs – Casablanca and Tel Aviv – as well as their networks beyond. The Moroccan operator says it is “preparing to launch soon” a route to Tel Aviv, “as soon as general conditions allow”. Partnership with El Al, it adds, will enable the two airlines to offer “the best services to their customers”. El Al has reached an Arab-Israeli codeshare agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ Etihad Airways and has also held similar discussions with Bahrain’s Gulf Air.<br/>

Malaysia Aviation Group is weighing the sale of a minority stake in its air cargo unit to a strategic partner, according to people familiar with the matter. The parent of Malaysia Airlines has invited banks to submit proposals as it seeks ways to expand the business, the people said, asking not to be identified because the information is private. A deal could value the unit, known as MASkargo, at more than $1b, the people said. Malaysia Aviation Group may also seek as much as $150m of financing for MASkargo, the people said. Discussions are at an early stage, and there’s no certainty they will lead to a transaction, the people said. A representative for MASkargo referred queries to its parent. A spokesperson for Malaysia Aviation Group said the company doesn’t rule out the possibility of seeking strategic investors for its non-air passenger businesses to accelerate their growth, declining to comment further. Malaysia Aviation Group is owned by the country’s sovereign fund, Khazanah Nasional Bhd. MASkargo operates its own freighter fleet and serves almost 100 destinations worldwide, according to its website.<br/>