Mozambique’s Civil Aviation Institute (IACM) has granted a licence to operate domestic air transport to the private airline Solenta/Fastjet, marking a new step in the liberalisation of the country’s aviation sector.
Speaking at the licence handover in Maputo, IACM board chairman Emanuel Chaves said the airline had successfully completed all stages of the certification process and met every regulatory requirement to operate in both the domestic and regional markets. He explained that the process had been delayed by the need to modernise outdated national aviation legislation in order to ensure “healthy competition”.
Chaves noted that the Council of Ministers approved on Tuesday a revision of Decree 39, which governs the licensing of airlines for scheduled operations, thereby creating the legal conditions for Solenta/Fastjet to launch regular domestic and regional flights. The new regulation establishes the legal framework for market access and the operation of commercial air transport, in line with international best practice and Mozambique’s commitments under the African Single Air Transport Market.
Under the revised rules, Solenta/Fastjet is authorised to base operations at Beira airport, in central Sofala province, and has 90 days to finalise routes and fares. The airline plans to operate four Embraer 145 aircraft, one of which will be used for charter flights serving the oil and gas industry, while the remaining aircraft will fly routes linking Maputo with Tete, Beira, Quelimane and Nampula.
Solenta’s chief executive, Brian Holmes, said the licence comes with responsibility and stressed that the company is ready to deliver reliable services. Sector analysts view the entry of Solenta/Fastjet as an important development for Mozambican civil aviation, signalling a more investor-friendly regulatory environment and increased competition that could improve service quality and reduce costs for passengers.
