The Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala, said that LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique, the flagship company, is already a technically solvent company, two months after Fly Modern Ark (FMA) began participating in its management.

Mateus Magala also revealed that, since then, there have been significant gains, including the reduction in fares by more than 30%; the increase in LAM's fleet with two more CRJ 900 aircraft, with capacity for 89 passengers each.

The first aircraft began operations in June and the second will start operating in July; improved operational efficiency which translates into a reduction in postponed or canceled flights, the consolidation of punctuality, among other gains for the passenger.

The Minister of Transport and Communications added that there were also new regional destinations opening up, such as Maputo-Lusaka in Zambia, and prospects for the resumption of intercontinental flights; the containment of expenditure, a considerable increase in revenue and a consequent improvement in the company's financial situation.

"Miraculously, the company that was considered technically insolvent three months ago is now technically solvent," said Mateus Magala, during the inaugural ceremony of the new regional air route between Maputo and Lusaka, with a stopover in Harare.

The minister said he was aware that the "challenges of restructuring and making LAM profitable are enormous, but the gains achieved in this short space of time encourage us to believe that the reforms underway were not only necessary but also effective".

In fact, last Friday, June 30, the airline began its career of flights linking Maputo and Lusaka (Zambia), with a stopover in Harare (Zimbabwe), strengthening ties between neighboring countries and promoting regional connectivity.

The start of flights to Lusaka is part of LAM's strategy to include the capitals of southern African countries in its destinations. In this region, the company currently operates flights between Maputo and Johannesburg, as well as Maputo and Harare, in addition to Pemba and Dar es Salaam.

The addition of flights aims to increase travel options for passengers, eliminating the need for long stopovers or indirect routes between countries.

It will also promote tourism, trade and cooperation between the countries, boosting economic development, strengthening ties between the region's capitals, as well as facilitating travel and contributing to the growth of Southern Africa's connectivity.

The company believes that the new route will bring mutual benefits to Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe, while also providing another option for passengers in our region.

Flights run on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing Maputo at 12:30 pm and arriving in Lusaka at 3:50 pm. From Lusaka, flights depart at 16:30 and arrive in Maputo at 19:50.

The new route is operated using Embraer 145 aircraft.