en.Wedoany.com Reported - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM) began operations under its new commercial brand, Air Mozambique, on August 14, with its first Embraer 190 aircraft, named "Limpopo," operating the inaugural flight from Maputo to Nacala in Nampula province that day. The company has purchased two Embraer 190 aircraft, with the second, named "Zambezi," planned to join the fleet at a later stage.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Transport and Logistics (Ministério dos Transportes e Logística), the introduction of the new brand and the strengthening of the fleet are part of LAM's restructuring and recovery plan, aimed at improving operational efficiency, ensuring financial sustainability, and enhancing the quality and stability of services provided to passengers. The launch of the new visual identity is linked to the company's transformation strategy, which was prioritized by Mozambican President Daniel Chapo a year ago.
The aircraft inauguration ceremony was led by the Minister of Transport and Logistics, João Matlombe, who framed this investment within the government's strategic framework to strengthen national mobility, economic integration, and territorial cohesion. He stated that Mozambique's vast territory, with major economic activity centers distributed across different regions, makes the movement of people, goods, services, and production factors a fundamental condition for economic functioning. Matlombe emphasized that the airline's recovery requires structural measures, including corporate restructuring, cost control, management process improvements, operational rationalization, and enhanced operational capacity. LAM's recovery is not limited to adding new aircraft but must be accompanied by a deep transformation of its management and operational model, aiming to build a more efficient, financially sustainable company capable of delivering stable, safe, and high-quality services.
Regarding fleet size, LAM's Board Chairman, Dane Kondic, stated in Beira on Tuesday that when the current management took office in May 2025, the company had only 3 aircraft. Currently, 2 owned aircraft and 6 aircraft from partners are in operation, totaling 8, and with the addition of two new Embraer 190 aircraft this week, the fleet will reach 10. The company expects to expand the fleet to 12 aircraft by the end of the year. Kondic believes that enhancing operational capacity is the top priority for improving domestic connectivity, given the vast distances between the country's major economic centers.
LAM, which faced operational difficulties for years due to its small fleet and lack of investment, is currently undergoing deep restructuring. In 2025, Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) acquired a 25.2% stake in the company, while Empresa Moçambicana de Seguros (Emose) and Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) each hold 15.4% stakes.
