Fastjet waiting for takeoff as government delays raise concerns over LAM ownership by CFM, EMOSE and HCB
With four Embraer 145 aircraft parked at Maputo International Airport, contracts signed with companies for handling, catering and fuel supply, and over 120 employees positioned across domestic destinations, Solenta Aviation Mozambique, in partnership with fastjet, remains grounded due to the absence of a license that has been pending since April. In an exclusive interview with TORRE.News, the company’s managing director, Brian Holmes, revealed that the first flight was scheduled for June 16 and that the delay by the Civil Aviation Institute of Mozambique (IACM) is causing losses of more than 300 thousand US dollars per month.
The situation has raised suspicions of a deliberate blockade against new entrants into the national market, allegedly to protect a 130 million dollar bailout investment in Mozambique Airlines (LAM), the national carrier. This investment was approved by the Council of Ministers through the transfer of 91 percent of the state’s shares in LAM to three state-owned enterprises: Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM) and Empresa Moçambicana de Seguros (EMOSE). The restructuring of LAM, which included leadership changes and new aircraft acquisition, was announced by President Daniel Chapo during his 100-day address, at a time when the licensing process for the new operator was already well advanced within IACM.
According to Holmes, all required documentation was submitted, the license fee was paid, and all legal requirements were fully met without any objections raised by the regulator. However, neither IACM nor the Ministry of Transport and Communications have commented on the approval, despite several meetings with officials in the sector. The company is currently waiting for an audience with Minister João Matlombe.
“We are only waiting for that license, which we already paid for in April. We have fulfilled all certification requirements. There is no obstacle raised by the regulator. We have received no response from the ministry, not from the regulator, not from anyone,” said the managing director, stressing that the delay is causing major financial losses, as contracts with key service providers are already in effect.
Solenta Aviation Mozambique has concluded agreements with firms responsible for handling, check-in, catering and refueling services. It has hired 18 pilots, both Mozambican and foreign, and over 120 staff members are stationed at all domestic destinations. The four aircraft are ready and parked awaiting clearance for takeoff. The airline’s official launch had been scheduled for June 10.
Holmes emphasized that the project, now suspended by the authorities, represents an investment of over 15 million dollars, including aircraft leasing and direct capital injection. The aim is to revitalize the air transport sector and support the operations of LAM, which is currently facing serious operational challenges. “We believe there is room for everyone. We are not competitors of LAM, we are supporters. We want to deliver quality services and restore passenger confidence,” he said.
The director added that the regulator itself encouraged the project in its early phases, acknowledging the need for new operators in the national market. “We just want to know if we can operate or not. Everything is ready. If we cannot operate, they must explain why,” he appealed.
It should be noted that in an interview with TORRE.News in May, the chairman of IACM, commander João de Abreu, considered that the entry of a new operator would be a major gain for passengers, who until now have been reliant on a single provider, LAM, whose recent history has been marred by mismanagement, flight cancellations, operational deficiencies and recurring consumer complaints. “Passengers benefit from competition. They will finally have the chance to choose and enjoy better fares and higher service quality. The absence of competition leads to stagnation, complacency and a service that fails to meet user expectations,” said De Abreu.
In the same interview, the IACM chairman mentioned that other foreign airlines had also expressed interest in resuming or starting operations in Mozambique, including Air France, Emirates and Air Link (in place of South African Airways), in addition to those already operating in the country such as TAAG, TAP, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Kenya Airways, the latter having recently returned.
In a context where the formal liberalisation of Mozambique’s airspace is enshrined in the Civil Aviation Law, the current posture of the executive, through IACM, contradicts the existing legal framework. The lack of transparency fuels suspicions of manoeuvres to block new entrants, preserving an inefficient monopoly that penalises passengers and stifles sector growth. The national aviation crisis, marked by repeated cancellations, delays and poor service from LAM, requires urgent and transparent solutions. The entry of new operators could be a vital part of that response, but remains blocked in the corridors of power.
