The Mozambican government has denied claims it is blocking the licencing of Fastjet Mozambique (Maputo), revealing that the process is now in its final phases, reports the national news agency Agência de Informação de Moçambique.
Government spokesman Inocencio Impissa told reporters in Maputo on August 22 that Solenta Aviation Mozambique's application, submitted in February 2025 to operate Fastjet Mozambique under a franchise agreement with Fastjet Group, is progressing through the phased air operator's certificate (AOC) process. The authorities have already assessed the airline’s financial capacity, maintenance procedures, and staff qualifications, he added.
The final review, Impissa said, focuses on whether Solenta’s operations align with national air transport policies. He did not give a timeline for completion.
Fastjet Group declined to comment.
The company earlier warned it may redeploy two E145s originally planned for its Mozambican subsidiary, as licencing delays continued to stall the airline’s relaunch. Fastjet Mozambique aims to restart with two E145s and expand to a third, focusing on domestic routes. It first launched as a virtual carrier in 2017 but shut down in 2019 amid overcapacity and cyclone disruptions.
Its return is expected to boost competition in a market dominated by troubled state-owned LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM, Maputo), which faces financial instability and capacity shortages.
