Mozambique’s President, Daniel Chapo, announced on Monday, December 8, in the city of Porto, northern Portugal, that the state-owned airline Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), responsible for national air transport, will resume flights to Portugal and launch new routes to Brazil and India. The reopening of these destinations is part of the airline’s restructuring process, according to news agency Lusa.
During a meeting with the Mozambican community living in Porto, held on the sidelines of the 6th Portugal–Mozambique Bilateral Summit, Chapo explained that the three destinations represent a new phase for LAM.
“We want to resume flights to three destinations. We will start with Portugal, then move on to Brazil and subsequently to India,” he stated, highlighting the strategic priority of the Lisbon–Maputo route.
LAM’s suspension of flights to Portugal in February this year resulted from internal restructuring measures. The decision raised concerns among the Mozambican diaspora, leading the community to meet with the Head of State to discuss the issue. The meeting brought together more than a hundred participants, who emphasized the importance of the route for mobility and family connections.
Chapo added that after consolidating LAM’s domestic operations, the airline also intends to strengthen regional connections.
“After stabilizing at the national level, we are on the right track. We will resume flights to Johannesburg, Harare and other regional capitals,” he explained, stressing gradual expansion as a strategy to rebuild trust and improve operational efficiency.
Although no exact date was given for the reinstatement of flights to Portugal, the President reaffirmed the plan for a step-by-step return. Once the route is consolidated, LAM will also resume flights to Brazil and later to India, taking advantage of the tourism and business potential of these markets. He further revealed that the airline is reinforcing its fleet and is currently negotiating the acquisition of two additional aircraft. After the purchase, LAM aims to “consolidate these three destinations,” in an effort to avoid new financial losses while improving reliability and competitiveness.
Currently, the direct Maputo–Lisbon route is operated exclusively by Portuguese airline TAP Air Portugal. According to Chapo, LAM’s return could help stabilize ticket prices and increase market competition. The route, previously operated using aircraft from Portuguese charter company euroAtlantic Airways, was suspended in February after generating an estimated USD 21 million in losses within just a few months.
Chapo also recalled that the Lisbon–Maputo route, which LAM had abandoned for nearly 12 years, had been reinstated in November 2023 as part of a revitalization plan led by South African consultancy Fly Modern Ark (FMA), temporarily hired to manage the Mozambican airline. The newly announced reopening now represents another step toward the recovery of commercial aviation in Mozambique.
Source: Diário Económico
