With fastjet poised to enter domestic air travel in Mozambique, the country’s national carrier, Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), faces increased local competition.
Fastjet released its schedule of domestic flights on October 12 at the Mozambique International Tourism Fair. It will fly between Maputo and Beira, Maputo and Tete and Maputo and Nampula, with the first flight scheduled for November 3. The LCC will use the Embraer E145 50-seat aircraft on the routes.
Domestically, LAM serves Maputo, Beira, Inhambane, Vilanculos, Chimoio, Quelimane, Tete, Nampula, Lichinga and Pemba, while its regional routes include Luanda, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Johannesburg and Harare.
In June, LAM’s overflying rights to the EU were reinstated. Tourism Update was unable to ascertain if the airline had any plans to add European points to its network in the future.
Fastjet is the first low-cost carrier to enter Mozambique's recently liberalised skies, where it will operate in partnership with Solenta Aviation Mozambique. The carrier currently operates in Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
According to Public Relations and Communications Head for Fastjet in Johannesburg, Hein Kaiser, all indicators point to robust demand for the airline’s services. “With the African Development Bank forecasting GDP growth of 5.5% for 2017 and 6.8% next year, we are looking forward to entering the Mozambique market and providing access to more affordable air services under the fastjet brand.”
When asked if fastjet would be a rival for LAM, Kaiser responded that, the world over, LCC entry into a market in fact stimulated travel and aided market growth.
Tour operators have responded positively to the expanded aviation landscape in Mozambique.
Henk Graaff, MD of destination marketing company SW Africa, welcomed fastjet’s entry. “More airlines entering the market bring competition and, as a result, hopefully better prices. So, improved air access is bound to boost tourism.”
Natalie Tenzer-Silva, Dana Tours Director, was ecstatic to hear that the airspace in Mozambique was opening up.
Stakeholders interviewed by TU reported limited experience of LAM services. Mariska Yntema, Product Manager at Jenman African Safaris said she had not had any feedback yet regarding LAM. “Clients tend to combine Mozambique with South Africa and would therefore often fly in to Johannesburg from the EU instead,” she said.
Julian Asher, Founder of Timeless Africa from the London office, said: “When flying into Mozambique we normally use SA Airlink as it’s more reliable. We have occasionally used LAM for flights between Johannesburg and Vilanculos or Pemba if SAA is fully booked.”
It would be great, he said, to have scheduled flights from Dar es Salaam to Pemba and/or Nairobi to Pemba. “Kenya and Tanzania would combine very well with the lodges in the Quirimbas, for example, Quilalea, Vamizi and Ibo Island, if there was a way to get people there without chartering.”
Carol Martin, Cape Town Office Manager for Nomad Africa Adventure Tours, said her clients use LAM, South African Airways and British Airways.
