Nyusi challenges LAM to open more international routes

Maputo, 29 Jan (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Saturday challenged Mozambique Airlines (LAM) to open more international routes.

According to Nyusi, who was speaking to reporters in Lisbon, opening more routes may help make the company more profitable and sustainable.

“The Ministry of Transport and LAM have been instructed to work towards doing more and developing the routes. It’s clear that we have the human capacity, the organizational capacity and the imagination”, he said.

“LAM has the creative, managerial and organizational capacity and therefore would not need more human resources to open new routes”, Nyusi said.

Last April, the government placed LAM under the management of the South African company Fly Modern Ark (FMA), which is responsible for bringing the company into profitability, and rescuing it from bankruptcy.

Under the FMA administration, the company resumed direct flights from Maputo to Lisbon, after an interruption of 12 years. It has also acquired its first Boeing 737-300 freighter, in order to meet the demand for the transportation of goods.

Nyusi congratulated LAM on the fact that, as well as playing a key role in the growth of the Mozambican economy, it has among its staff committed pilots who are experienced in handling flights, even in adverse situations.

In Lisbon, where he stayed for a few hours, Nyusi met with his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

From Lisbon, the President travelled to Italy, where on Sunday, he began a three-day working visit, in response to an invitation from the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.

In Rome, Nyusi will take part in the Italy-Africa Summit, to be held on Monday under the slogan: “Italy-Africa: A Bridge to Common Growth.”

(AIM)

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