Mozambique: EuroAtlantic says it “fully supports” partnership with LAM

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Mozambique: EuroAtlantic says it “fully supports” partnership with LAM

3:12 CAT | 16 Jan 2024

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: euroAtlantic airways ]

EuroAtlantic stated on Monday that it “fully supports the partnership with LAM”, which since December has allowed the resumption the Maputo-Lisbon route, after the Mozambican flag carrier blamed the Portuguese company for the problems on that connection.

“Regarding the news published today in the media, EuroAtlantic Airways states that it fully supports the partnership with LAM to operate and grow this project together,” said an official source from the Portuguese company in response to a request for information from Lusa.

“EuroAtlantic Airways aircraft are fully available to LAM, also providing all necessary operational support,” added the source, referring requests for further information to the Mozambican state-owned air carrier.

Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM) yesterday held the Portuguese company EuroAtlantic responsible for the problems operating flights on the route between Maputo and Lisbon, claiming that that company did not pay for the rental of the aircraft.

In a statement sent to Lusa, the Mozambican air carrier explains that it had to cancel the flight between Lisbon and Maputo on Saturday “due to problems with the aircraft supplier, EuroAtlantic Airways (EAA)”.

“At the moment before passengers boarded, in Lisbon, LAM became aware that the provider had not paid the owner of the used aircraft and that it had in turn, determined that the airplane should not be used,” it reads.

“In view of this situation,” LAM explains that it “made efforts to materialize the flight”, and succeeded on Sunday, January 14, using an aircraft “from another operator”..

On the Maputo – Lisbon route, the next flight would take place this Tuesday, at 03:00 local time (01:00 in Lisbon), LAM’s statement adds.

“While these actions were taking place, accommodation was granted to passengers and those who expressed interest in taking the trip with other operators were redirected. Refunds were also given to passengers who expressed their express intention not to continue with the flight,” the Mozambican flag carrier highlighted.

LAM resumed flights to Lisbon on December 12th, 2023, using a 302-seat Boeing 777, the result of a partnership with the Portuguese operator EuroAtlantic, connecting the two capitals three times a week.

The Maputo-Lisbon route, abandoned by the company almost 12 years ago, is part of the operator’s revitalization plan, after the South African company Fly Modern Ark (FMA) entered the management of LAM in April last year for the process of restructuring.

The operation to resume LAM’s flights to European airspace costs around US$2 million (€1.8 million) per month, the company’s general director said on December 13th.

“This operation has immense cost elements. The immediate fixed cost are around US$2 million a month,” João Carlos Pó Jorge declared at the time.

The LAM revitalization strategy follows years of operational problems related to a small fleet and lack of investment, with a record of non-fatal incidents associated with inefficient aircraft maintenance.

LAM’s flight network has 12 destinations in the domestic market. At a regional level it regularly flies to Johannesburg, Dar-Es-Salaam, Harare, Lusaka, and Cape Town, while Lisbon has been the only intercontinental destination since last December.

LAM carries out more than 40 flights daily with a fleet of one Boeing 737, three Q400s, two Bombardier CRJ 900s and two Embraer 145s operated by its subsidiary Moçambique Expresso (MEX)

Source: Lusa