Mozambique Airlines (LAM) said on Friday that the resumption of flights from Maputo to Lisbon will increase the number of routes for the Mozambican company, considering the "very strong" historical ties between the two countries.

The operations director of the Mozambican airline, Hilário Tembe, said in Inhambane, on the sidelines of the ceremony marking the resumption of the direct link between the city of Inhambane and Johannesburg, in South Africa, "by flying to Lisbon we will be increasing our route tentacles, because from Maputo and Lisbon we will be able to serve our passengers to other world capitals".

Cited by Lusa, the official considered the link between Mozambique and Portugal to be historic, saying that a large part of the Portuguese community is in Portugal, as well as the Mozambican community in the European country.

"[With the upturn] we will be able to offer our passengers through tickets to their final destination," said Tembe, mentioning the fact that many flights depart from Lisbon to all European capitals, among other destinations.

Mozambican company LAM plans to resume flights from Maputo to Lisbon on November 20, the administrator of the South African company that the Mozambican government has put in charge of the flag carrier since April announced.