Moçambique Expresso (Mex), a subsidiary of the state-owned LAM – Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique, is resuming its regular operations, marking the end of a nearly two-week hiatus. The revival comes after Mex successfully negotiated a payment plan to settle a debt owed to the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, Embraer.
Mex’s resurgence is particularly noteworthy, given its heavy reliance on Embraer aircraft, specifically the ERJ 145 jet. On Wednesday, the airline officially resumed its regular flights, thanks to a breakthrough agreement that allowed Mex to regain access to its three ERJ 145 jets. This crucial development transpired following Mex’s successful settlement of a $1.2 million debt owed to Embraer.
The suspension of access to the FlyEmbraer platform, utilized for efficient fleet management, had severely impacted Mex’s ability to operate during this period, according to Lusa, a Portuguese news agency.
Mex maintains a diverse fleet of five aircraft, including three ERJ 145s, one Dash 8-200, and one CRJ. Only the turboprop was operational while the debt issue remained unresolved.
Mex’s financial challenges were directly linked to the precarious financial state of its parent company, Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique. It was revealed that the outstanding amounts due to Mex from the flag airline had not been transferred, adding to Mex’s financial woes.
The current management of Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique is being overseen by the South African firm, Fly Modern Ark (FMA), following a request from the Mozambican government.
Of the three ERJ 145s, it was the C9-MEX registered aircraft that was reactivated. This particular aircraft has now resumed its role in operating domestic flights, along with servicing the crucial route between Maputo and Johannesburg. Notably, these Embraer aircraft were originally acquired between 2013 and 2015 and had previously served in subsidiaries of Air France.
The flagship airline, LAM, continues to be managed by the South African company Fly Modern Ark (FMA) under the Mozambican government’s request.
Source: airspace-africa.com