LAM dashes hopes at Nacala Airport
Nacala International Airport, located in Nampula province in northern Mozambique, is struggling with underutilization largely due to recurring operational issues with Mozambique Airlines (LAM).
This was the scenario outlined by the airport's director, Inácio Samuel, in an exclusive interview with TORRE.News.
According to Samuel, many passengers in the vicinity of Nacala Airport prefer to travel the 250 kilometers to Nampula Airport to catch their flights.
The main reason is the instability of LAM flights operating from Nacala, which frequently experience delays and cancellations, leaving passengers with few viable alternatives.
In contrast, Nampula Airport offers more flight options, receiving several planes daily, thus boosting passenger confidence.
In comparison, Nacala International Airport receives only one commercial flight per day, with passenger numbers ranging from 40 to 80, depending on demand and the type of aircraft allocated by LAM.
This situation was highlighted last Monday (26th) when TORRE.News witnessed the arrival of a LAM-operated flight with approximately 70 passengers, which, according to airport management, was one of the largest planes used on routes to Nacala.
"Sometimes our efforts to attract passengers to the airport are fruitless due to the problems presented by LAM itself," lamented Samuel.
"When LAM cancels a flight once, twice, or even three times, it fails to create a sense of security and confidence among passengers, who then prefer airports with higher traffic and more flight options, like Nampula," he added.
As a result, Nacala Airport, an infrastructure designed to accommodate large aircraft with a runway over 3,000 meters long and 45 meters wide, remains largely deserted most of the time.
On weekends, the airport closes its doors, and the facility becomes so inactive that on Sundays, children can be seen playing along the runway.
The reduced traffic at Nacala Airport is also reflected in the occupancy of commercial spaces within the facility. Currently, only about six shops are operational, while more than 25 remain empty—a direct consequence of the low passenger flow.
Inaugurated in December 2014, Nacala International Airport was designed to handle an average of 500,000 passengers and 5,000 tons of cargo annually.
The infrastructure was converted from a military airport to a commercial one by the Brazilian company Odebrecht, with an investment that ranged between $125 million and $200 million.
However, the current reality stands in stark contrast to the initial expectations, with low traffic and poor profitability posing significant challenges for the airport's management.
