Mozambique Courts Boeing Partnership to Revive Struggling National Carrier LAM
Mozambique's Ministry of Transport and Logistics has confirmed that Minister João Jorge Matlombe met with a Boeing representative in the United States on the sidelines of the World Bank's "Transforming Transportation" conference, inviting the American aircraft manufacturer to support the restructuring of national carrier Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM). Boeing has expressed openness to deeper discussions, with follow-up meetings scheduled for April. The approach to Boeing follows a similar overture to Ethiopian Airlines in February, when Mozambique signalled its intention to draw on Ethiopia's experience in pilot training and airline restructuring – a partnership Ethiopian Airlines has shown interest in pursuing.
LAM has faced mounting difficulties in recent years, having suspended international flights for almost a year while focusing solely on domestic routes. The airline recorded losses of 3,977 million meticais (€53.7 million) in 2023 - a sharp rise from €6 million the previous year – prompting a state cash injection of 1,000 million meticais (€13.5 million) and a new management structure, with shareholders including Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa, Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique, and the Mozambican Insurance Company brought on board. To address fleet shortfalls and recurring cancellations, the airline has been leasing additional aircraft, most recently a 148-seat Airbus A319 that arrived in Maputo in December. The outcome of the Boeing discussions will be closely watched, given LAM's strategic importance to Mozambique's regional connectivity and broader tourism accessibility.
Source: Club of Mozambique
