Mozambique Airlines (LAM) is keeping two of the four aircraft acquired under its restructuring process grounded in South Africa for several months, where they are undergoing maintenance and refurbishment. According to Lusa, the information was confirmed by the airline’s management.
The aircraft in question are two Embraer 190 jets acquired in 2025, whose entry into service is expected “in the coming days.” The aircraft are part of the company’s restructuring plan launched last year with the entry of three state-owned companies into LAM’s shareholding structure.
“The planes are not operating because we had already announced that they would be painted. This painting is part of LAM’s new image, but the airline’s new identity is not just about the aircraft appearance. It also represents changes in several internal procedures,” explained Agostinho Langa, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM).
Langa assured that the aircraft repainting has already been completed and that preparations are underway for their entry into operation. However, he acknowledged that the situation continues to generate “additional costs” for the airline, due to the need to keep leased aircraft in operation.
According to the official, LAM currently operates six aircraft, of which four are leased and only two are owned by the company. He also noted that the leased aircraft are expected to remain part of the state-owned carrier’s fleet.
Recently, it was reported that LAM compensated 80 workers in 2025 as part of the company’s restructuring process. The information is included in the General State Account (CGE), recently approved by the government and submitted to Parliament.
According to the CGE, during 2025 the acquisition of four aircraft was secured, namely two Bombardier Q400s and two Embraer 190s, along with the registration of LAM’s shares in the Central Securities Depository. The document also states that legal procedures are ongoing to settle state-guaranteed debts with the Commercial and Investment Bank (BCI) and Moza Banco.
The CGE adds that the company’s debts to Airports of Mozambique and Petróleos de Moçambique have already been settled through offsetting and accounting write-offs. It also notes that Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) approved the acquisition of a 25.2% stake in LAM, while the Mozambique Insurance Company (EMOSE) and CFM each acquired 15.4%.
According to the CGE, HCB approved an investment of US$36 million in the restructuring process and in the creation of Fly Moz, an entity designed to secure financing for LAM. EMOSE also approved a US$22 million investment, becoming a 15.4% shareholder in the airline.
A year ago, the government announced plans to sell 91% of LAM’s share capital, but the three transactions completed so far account for only 56%. In November last year, the Minister of Transport announced that three state-owned companies would inject US$130 million to recapitalise the airline as part of a restructuring process that also includes the reduction of 80 jobs.
