Maputo, May 29, 2026 (Lusa) - Two of the four aircraft acquired by Mozambique's flag carrier, Linhas Aéreas de Mozambique (LAM) as part of the state-owned airline’s restructuring process have been grounded for several months in South Africa undergoing repairs, the management confirmed on Friday.
The aircraft in question are two Embraer 190s acquired by LAM in 2025, but which the company’s management – taken over last year following the acquisition of a stake by three public companies – promises to put into service “in the coming days”.
“They are not operating because we announced that the planes would be repainted, and the repainting we are carrying out is for a new LAM image. And a new image for LAM, for us, does not just mean painting the aircraft; it also means changing a number of procedures within LAM,” said Agostinho Langa, chairman of the board of directors of Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM), one of the three companies managing the airline.
"The repainting is now complete," Langa assured, confirming that preparations are underway for the two aircraft to enter service, but acknowledging "additional costs" for LAM, as it has to continue "operating with leased aircraft".
According to Agostinho Langa, LAM is currently operating with six aircraft, four of which are leased and will remain in the fleet, and two of which are owned by the company.
Lusa reported on Thursday that at least 80 workers left LAM in 2025 as part of the state-owned company’s restructuring process, according to government information in the General State Account (CGE).
According to the CGE, recently approved by the government and submitted to parliament for consideration, during 2025, as part of the restructuring plan, the acquisition of four aircraft was secured – specifically, two Bombardier Q400s and two Embraer 190s – and “LAM’s shares were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission”.
To “improve the company’s balance sheet, legal formalities are continuing for the settlement of State-guaranteed debts with commercial banks” – BCI and Moza Banco – the document further states.
The airline’s debts to the state-owned companies Aeroportos de Mozambique and Petróleos de Mozambique have already been “settled”, “through a mutual settlement of accounts and accounting write-off”, adds the CGE.
Meanwhile, Hidroelétrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) has approved the acquisition of 25.2% of the share capital of LAM, as part of the restructuring process, followed by Emose and CFM, each with 15.4%.
Also according to the 2025 CGE, HCB, a public company, approved an investment of $36 million (€30.8 million) in this process and the creation of Fly Moz, an entity whose “objective is to secure financing for LAM”, also a state-owned company.
In this restructuring process for LAM, approved in 2025 by the Mozambican Government, two other state-owned companies invested and acquired a stake in the flag carrier, “with the funds to be used for the acquisition of aircraft, workforce restructuring and payment of suppliers” and “improvements in operational stability being noted”, concludes the CGE.
The insurance company Emose approved an investment of $22 million (€18.8 million), “thereby becoming the holder of 15.40% of LAM’s shareholding structure”, as did the company Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Mozambique (CFM), according to the General State Account.
A year ago, the intention to sell 91% of LAM’s share capital was announced, but these three transactions still only total 56%.
Mozambique’s Transport Minister said last November that three state-owned companies would inject US$130 million (€110.4 million) to recapitalise LAM and that 80 staff members were to be made redundant as part of the restructuring of the state-owned airline.
PVJ/MYAL // AYLS
Lusa
