The national flag carrier, Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), has leased an Airbus A319 from Ukraine to reinforce its fleet. The announcement was made on Tuesday, October 7, by the Ministry of Transport and Logistics via a Facebook post.
The aircraft has a capacity of 144 passengers and will be operated by a Ukrainian crew. The lease package also includes maintenance services, ensuring the proper functioning of the plane, and insurance, which covers potential risks.
According to the Ministry, this acquisition is part of LAM’s effort to increase its air transport capacity. The airline has faced operational difficulties in recent years, mainly due to a reduced fleet and lack of investment in new aircraft.
Currently, LAM has six airplanes, five of which are leased, and only one, a Bombardier Q400, recently purchased. This model is a medium-sized turboprop suitable for regional flights and was the first aircraft the company acquired in 18 years.
On September 23, the Government acknowledged that restructuring the airline is a difficult but necessary process to ensure safety and effective operation. “We never said that the restructuring process would be easy; we still face many challenges ahead,” said the Minister of Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe. Recently, the airline experienced several aircraft malfunctions, including on the new Bombardier Q400. Experts have linked these issues to poor maintenance, which has affected operational reliability.
As part of the restructuring, LAM stopped operating international flights and has focused solely on domestic routes. Since May, it has a new administration and public companies such as Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa, Mozambique Railways, and the insurer Emose have become shareholders.
To address frequent cancellations, the Government plans to purchase five Boeing 737-700 aircraft by December. While awaiting these planes, the airline launched a tender to lease five additional aircraft, including the A319 now contracted.
Source: Lusa
