LAM passenger numbers drop 30% from January to February, new aircraft arrives – reports

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LAM passenger numbers drop 30% from January to February, new aircraft arrives – reports

2:53 CAT | 22 Mar 2021

Photo: Supplied

Passenger numbers at Mozambique flag carrier LAM dropped by about a third between January and February of this year, a fall the company attributes to the impact of Covid-19.

LAM carried 20,936 passengers in February 2021, against 29,923 in January, “representing a 30% decrease due to the covid-19 pandemic”, a statement from the carrier released on Monday states.

The five main domestic routes in terms of passenger traffic in February were Maputo-Nampula, with 4,555 passengers, followed by Maputo-Beira, with 3,683, and Maputo-Pemba, with 3,215.

Below 3,000 passengers were the Maputo-Tete (2,930) and Maputo-Quelimane (1,975) routes.

“During the same period, LAM recorded an operational punctuality index of around 85%, in a universe of 453 flights, meaning a slight decrease of six percentage points in relation to January, in which the punctuality recorded was 91% for a total of 608 flights,” the company communique adds.

Of the flights analysed, the highlight in terms of punctuality were flights to Chimoio, Dar-Es-Salaam and Johannesburg, with a record of 100%, followd by Quelimane, with 93%, and Tete with 90%.

Within the scope of fleet standardisation and expansion, LAM last week received another Bombardier Q400 series aircraft, according to a note sent to ‘Carta’. The aircraft can carry up to 74 economy class passengers, in seats known for their generous spacing between.
The aircraft measures 32.6 metres in length and 8.2 meters in height, with a 28.4 metre wingspan. It cruises at 639 km/h and has a range of 2,600 km, which allows a direct flight from Maputo to Pemba. LAM says that the aircraft is economical as regards fuel consumption, with a fuel capacity of 5,425 litres.

According to the flag carrier, the newly acquired Q400 will join flight operations as soon as the enrolment process is completed.

The new craft joins two Boeing 737-700s, one Boeing 737-300, one Dash-8 Q400, one Dash Q300 and one Embraer E120. A subsidiary, MEX, is flying passengers between the smaller airports in the country on two Embraer ERJ145s.

Source: Lusa / Carta de Moçambique