Mozambique Airlines (LAM) has clarified that, in cases of flight cancellations due to adverse weather conditions, responsibility for assisting passengers must be shared. The position was expressed by the company’s technical and operational director, Bruno Miranda, in reaction to complaints from passengers about the lack of support after a recent cancellation.
The latest reported case occurred on Sunday (16), involving a flight on the Chimoio-Beira-Maputo route, which was cancelled due to a lack of landing conditions. Some passengers expressed their dissatisfaction, claiming that the airline had failed to provide them with assistance, particularly in matters such as accommodation and food.
Bruno Miranda explained that although LAM has an obligation to ensure that passengers reach their destination, the company is also affected by weather conditions and cannot fully assume all the costs.
‘In this case of cancellation due to bad weather, the company tries to provide the best possible assistance to the passenger. However, our legal responsibility is limited to ensuring that they reach their destination. We were also affected by the weather conditions, which are beyond our control. So, although we always have some responsibility, this is a situation that requires a shared effort,’ he said.
According to the administrator, the cancellation of the flight was due to the lack of visual references for landing in Chimoio, which led the pilot to opt for an operational alternative.
‘There was good planning, but when approaching Chimoio, the pilot was unable to establish visual references with the aerodrome, which made it impossible to land safely. In this situation, the planned procedure is to divert the flight to an alternative airport,’ he explained.
LAM also said that measures are being implemented to minimise cancellations and improve communication with passengers.
‘It’s exactly this kind of problem that we’re here to solve. There is a communication strategy, there always has been. At the moment, we’re reviewing points that could create faults and improving the communication process to make it more comprehensive,’ he emphasised.
The company currently operates with four aircraft, a number which, according to the management, is not enough to meet demand. For a more efficient operation, LAM estimates the need for at least eight more aeroplanes.
The flight cancelled on Sunday was resumed on Monday morning, having left Maputo for Manica, and is already at its destination.
Source: O País
