Mozambique: LAM blames aircraft leasing company for disruption of Lisbon flights

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Mozambique: LAM blames aircraft leasing company for disruption of Lisbon flights

4:35 CAT | 15 Jan 2024

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

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

Mozambique Airlines (LAM) on Monday blamed EuroAtlantic for the current problems in operating flights on the route between Maputo and Lisbon, claiming that the Portugal-based company had not paid for the rental of the aircraft that it had supplied LAM for the purpose.

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.

Lusa tried to contact EuroAtlantic – LAM’s partner in resuming this route, after a hiatus of around 12 years – about this matter, but there has been no response so far.

“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”.

The next flight on the Maputo-Lisbon route, will take place on Tuesday (16-01), at 03:00 local time (01:00 in Lisbon), it 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