Maputo, Dec. 19, 2025 (Lusa) - The Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) said on Thursday that the licencing of the private airline Solenta for domestic flights was a structural step in the liberalisation and modernisation of the civil aviation sector.
"This act [of granting the licence] is part of the implementation of the new legal framework (...) regulating air transport in Mozambique, representing a structural step in the liberalisation and modernisation of the civil aviation sector in the country," the CTA said in a statement.
On 17 December, the Mozambique Civil Aviation Institute (IACM) granted the private airline Solenta a licence to operate scheduled domestic air transport.
For Mozambican entrepreneurs, the opening of the domestic market to new airlines creates favourable conditions for increased competition, improved service quality, greater fare predictability, and reduced transport costs, with direct impacts on company competitiveness and national economic integration.
"Facilitating the mobility of people and goods between the various regions of the country is a critical factor for the business environment, for the dynamism of the private sector, for attracting investment and for promoting tourism and domestic trade," said the confederation.
Business leaders also believe that the new company will contribute to greater connectivity, logistical efficiency, and territorial inclusion.
"Solenta has effectively completed all the stages that resulted in its licencing without any aspects that may not have been complied with. They have complied with all the requirements that give them the right to operate in the domestic and regional markets," said IACM Chairman Emanuel Chaves during the presentation of the licence to the airline in Maputo.
According to Chaves, Solenta's certification, which comes after assessments for its licensing by the government in mid-August, was delayed by the need to modernise national aviation legislation, which was no longer adequate, to allow for "healthy competition".
On Tuesday, Mozambique's government approved the decree ratifying the aviation sector licencing regulations, which establishes the legal framework for market access, transport operations and commercial air work, according to an announcement made after the weekly cabinet meeting in Maputo.
With the decisions taken in the new decree, Solenta is now authorised to operate at Beira airport in Sofala province, in the centre of the country, and has 90 days to adjust and set routes and prices, explained the PCA.
Solenta has four Embraer 145 aircraft for domestic operations in Mozambique, one of which will be used by the oil industry for charter flights [non-scheduled private flights], and the others on routes from Maputo to Tete, Beira, Quelimane and Nampula, according to company data.
SYCO/ADB // ADB.
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