Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM) took delivery of a Boeing 737-300 freighter plane in Maputo this Sunday.
According to an official company source, the new Boeing arrived in the Mozambican capital at 06:50 a.m. on December 31, and will “respond to cargo demand”.
“The aircraft will begin operations soon,” the source added.
The South African company Fly Modern Ark (FMA) took over the management of LAM in April, 2023, with the aim of revitalising the Mozambican airline.
In a meeting with journalists in Maputo in September, FMA executive director Theunis Crous said that he was negotiating the rental of a cargo plane to handle air freight within the country and abroad, namely to South Africa.
“It’s an opportunity to make the company profitable. Cargo transportation is a very profitable business,” Crous said.
At the time, Crous also mentioned that FMA had mobilised US$15 million (€14 million) in financing for LAM’s current operation, which is being expanded with new routes and aircraft. These measures had translated into an increase in passengers from 46,000 per month to 57,000 per month.
When FMA took over management of the state-owned airline in April, LAM had debts estimated at around US$300 million (€277.7 million).
FMA’s strategy to revitalise LAM follows years of operational problems related to a reduced fleet and lack of investment, with a record of non-fatal incidents associated with deficient aircraft maintenance.