Air transport in the country recorded a historic high of 2.4 million passengers in 2024, representing a growth of nearly 25% compared to the previous year. The data was released by Mozambique’s Civil Aviation Authority (IACM) and compiled on Wednesday, May 21, by Lusa.
According to official figures, 2.4 million passengers passed through the country’s airports last year, across 81,000 aircraft movements, marking a significant jump from the 1.9 million passengers in 2023. This upward trend is expected to continue in 2025, with forecasts pointing to over 2.7 million passengers — an increase of about 11%.
The growth in air traffic is being driven, according to IACM, by improvements in airport infrastructure, especially in tourist destinations such as Vilankulo, Inhambane, Chimoio, and Ponta do Ouro, which have seen a surge in travelers. The authority also highlights enhanced visa facilitation policies and the active promotion of Mozambique in high-value tourism markets as factors encouraging the arrival of foreign visitors by air.
Projections Point to Over 3 Million Passengers by 2026
This positive trend is expected to continue. The sector’s regulator projects 2.9 million passengers in 2027 and over 3.1 million in 2028. This growth is also reflected in cargo movement, which is expected to increase from 18,000 tons in 2024 to over 21,000 tons in 2027.
By the end of 2024, Mozambique had 88 registered aircraft, operated by 14 commercial airlines. The country’s air infrastructure network included 12 airports, 21 public airfields, and 256 private airstrips — a substantial number that demonstrates the sector’s dynamism and ongoing expansion.
Source: Diário Económico
