In a significant move for the Mozambican aviation, a Boeing 777 carrying approximately 200 passengers is set to depart from Lisbon International Airport to Maputo today, marking the resumption of Mozambique Airlines’ (LAM) operations in European airspace.
The Boeing 777, boasting a capacity of 302 seats and a result of collaboration with Portuguese carrier EuroAtlantic, is scheduled to connect the two capitals three times a week, offering promotional prices starting from €370.
Speaking at the launch ceremony at Lisbon International Airport, João Carlos Pó Jorge, the CEO of LAM, emphasized the enduring nature of this route. “This route is here to stay. We don’t just want to sell airline tickets; we want to sell a Mozambican experience.”
LAM, currently undergoing restructuring, has ambitious plans beyond this route. João Carlos Pó Jorge stated, “We are considering other routes, such as Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, and possibly the Indian subcontinent.”
The maiden LAM flight is scheduled to depart from Lisbon at 16:35 GMT. The adoption of promotional pricing in the initial phase, announced in October, has proven successful, with the airline having sold around 12,000 tickets for travel between Maputo and Lisbon. These tickets cover the period from December 12, 2023, to October 2024.
The Maputo-Lisbon route, abandoned by the airline almost 12 years ago, is an integral part of LAM’s revitalization plan. The involvement of South African company Fly Modern Ark (FMA) in the management of LAM in April this year marked the beginning of the restructuring process.
Four months into a series of interventions, as reported by the airline, LAM has achieved stability and repositioning. In addition to the Maputo-Lisbon route, the Mozambican flag carrier has unveiled plans for new routes connecting Maputo to various points in South Africa, with the Cape Town route commencing today.
This ongoing revitalization strategy follows years of operational challenges linked to a limited fleet and insufficient investments, coupled with incidents, though non-fatal, associated with inefficient aircraft maintenance, according to experts.
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