The President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, stated that the entry of new airlines into the Mozambican market will enable a reduction in ticket prices in the future, emphasizing that “air travel should not be a luxury” in Mozambique.
“With the arrival of other airlines and the expansion of our fleet, we will be able to lower ticket prices in the future, because flying cannot be a luxury in Mozambique; it must be an option to transport our people,” he said.
Cited by the Mozambican News Agency, the Head of State highlighted the “encouraging results” of the restructuring of Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), noting the consolidation of flight frequencies, a reduction of approximately 70% in flight delays, and the reintroduction of some interprovincial routes.
“Soon we will begin the first flights to the cities of Beira and Nampula. The process of acquiring aircraft and stabilizing the airline’s services continues, with a view to restoring the carrier’s credibility, a strategic asset for the movement of people, goods, and opportunities,” he added.
The President recalled the labor restructuring, operational rationalization, incorporation of strategic partners, and improvements in financial management as part of the Mozambican flag carrier’s reorganization process. Last week, Solenta Aviation Mozambique, a private airline operating Fastjet, received in Maputo the license authorizing the start of domestic air transport activities in the country. This issuance is part of implementing the new legal framework approved by the Council of Ministers during its session on Tuesday (16), according to a press release from the Mozambican Civil Aviation Institute (IACM).
According to IACM, the approved decree aims to strengthen the opening of the national air market to new airlines, granting the regulatory body greater prerogatives to supervise the sector and make it more accessible to users.
Among the measures provided is the establishment of tariff limits to be applied by airlines operating in the domestic market, aimed at promoting competition, ensuring greater transparency, and enhancing passenger protection.
In response, the private sector stated that this action represents a structural step in the liberalization and modernization of Mozambique’s civil aviation sector. “Opening the domestic market creates favorable conditions for increased competition, improved service quality, greater tariff predictability, and reduced transport costs, with direct impacts on business competitiveness and national economic integration,” described the CTA in a statement.
Last October, the government had already announced that assessment work was underway for the certification and licensing of Solenta Aviation Mozambique, with a view to conducting domestic flights on various routes across the country.
At the time, authorities clarified that the administrative, legal, and economic analysis of the process had been completed, with only the technical-operational phase remaining, considered decisive for the final authorization of operations.
The licensing of Solenta Aviation Mozambique comes at a time when the Chairman of IACM assured that airlines operating in the country should reduce airfares next year. To achieve this objective, a Master Plan detailing all measures and stages of the process will be submitted to the government.
Source: Diário Económico
