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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

► MOZAMBIQUE: MEX-Moçambique Expresso to base two leased ERJ145s in Nampula, Tete as LAM's pax numbers grow 9% in 2012.

LAM Mozambique AirlinesMEX-Moçambique Expresso (MXE), the domestic and regional subsidiary of LAM Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), is to operate two leased Embraer ERJ145s on behalf of LAM during the first quarter of this year.

LAM's Domestic Network
LAM's Domestic Network
The aircraft will be based in the cities of Tete and Nampula, currently experiencing an economic boom owing to the massive infrastructural and economic investments being made in the region by Brazilian, Canadian and Chinese firms.

Meanwhile, the country's strong economic performance has benefited the country's national carrier LAM. Announcing that LAM had carried a landmark 612'765 passengers in 2012 - a 9% increase on 2011 - the company's Chief Executive Officer, Marlene Manave, said:
We are celebrating this record, because it reflects our commitment in responding to the growing need of the market for air transport services. This result shows the determined and efficient way we are working”.

LAM added two other aircraft to its fleet, a Boeing 737-500 and an Embraer 190, in November 2012. Together with the two ERJ145s, LAM estimates that, during 2013, it can increase seat availability by 22 per cent. At the arrival ceremony for the 737 and E190 in November, Mozambican Transport and Communications Minister Paulo Zucula stated that "Mozambique’s air space had been liberalised", and invited everyone that was interested in the sector to “come and invest, come and fly.”