Mozambique’s national carrier, Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM), has officially introduced its newly acquired Embraer E190 regional jets into commercial passenger service under its modern rebranding, AirMozambique. The deployment marks a significant operational milestone in the airline’s comprehensive turnaround program, aimed at expanding domestic and regional capacity, restoring schedule reliability, and replacing costly wet-lease contracts.
The first 100-seat Embraer E190, named “Limpopo” and registered as C9-AMA, completed its inaugural commercial revenue flight on August 14, 2026, operating between the capital of Maputo and Nacala in Nampula Province.
The aircraft was joined shortly thereafter by a second sister ship, registered as C9-AMB and named “Zambeze.” Both airframes previously flew for KLM Cityhopper until late 2025 before being acquired by LAM in a deal valued at approximately US $25 million, subsequently undergoing heavy maintenance and repainting into the fresh AirMozambique livery in South Africa.
The induction of the E190s is central to the restructuring overseen by the carrier’s management commission and major state shareholders, including Portos e Caminhos-de-Ferro de Moçambique (CFM), Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), and Empresa Moçambicana de Seguros (Emose). The arrival of the twin-jets increases LAM’s operational fleet to 10 aircraft—up from just three serviceable planes in early 2025—with plans to reach 12 operational aircraft by the end of 2026. The expanded fleet is designed to boost domestic flight frequencies between major economic hubs like Maputo, Beira, Nampula, and Pemba, while setting the foundation for sustained regional connectivity and long-term financial self-sufficiency.
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