Fastjet Mozambique Cleared to Launch Domestic Flights
Solenta Aviation Mozambique has received long-awaited regulatory approval to begin scheduled domestic passenger services, clearing the way for the relaunch of Fastjet Mozambique as a branded carrier in the country. The approval for a scheduled services licence was granted on December 17, enabling the airline to move forward after months of regulatory uncertainty.
In a statement shared with ch-aviation, the company said it is reviewing the terms and conditions attached to the licence before confirming its launch plans. “Once we have thoroughly researched the terms and conditions attached to the licence, we will further announce our plans accordingly,” the airline said, adding that its initial focus will be on building a strong domestic route network.
The approval follows an announcement on December 16 by Mozambique’s civil aviation regulator, the Autoridade Reguladora da Aviação Civil de Moçambique (IACM), confirming that a domestic operating licence would be formally issued to Solenta Aviation Mozambique on December 17. The move marks a significant step toward opening Mozambique’s domestic air transport market to new entrants.
The licensing decision was made possible by a decree approved by the Mozambican Council of Ministers on December 16, which updated the legal framework governing air transport in the country. The revised rules are intended to liberalise the domestic aviation market while simultaneously strengthening regulatory oversight.
Under the new framework, the IACM is empowered to manage market access, establish tariff limits for domestic routes, and ensure airline compliance with national regulations, international standards, and industry best practices. Regulators said the changes are designed to encourage competition while maintaining safety and financial discipline.
Solenta Aviation Mozambique had originally planned to launch scheduled domestic flights in June 2025 using two Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft under a franchise agreement with the Fastjet Group. Those plans were repeatedly delayed due to regulatory hurdles. Despite the setbacks, the company has maintained a strong operational presence in Mozambique, holding an unscheduled air operator’s certificate and providing ACMI and fixed-wing charter services to the oil, gas, and mining sectors since 2009.
The airline is a subsidiary of Solenta Aviation, headquartered in Johannesburg, which is also a part shareholder in Fastjet Group. The group’s portfolio includes Fastjet Zimbabwe, South Africa-based charter operator Federal Airlines, and a central holding company overseeing regional operations.
Fastjet first entered Mozambique in 2017 as a virtual carrier, but operations ceased in October 2019 amid intense market overcapacity, the entry of Ethiopian Mozambique Airlines, and the impact of two tropical cyclones earlier that year.
Mozambique’s domestic market is currently dominated by state-owned LAM – Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique, which is rebuilding its fleet with the acquisition of two Embraer E190 aircraft as part of a broader restructuring following years of financial and managerial instability.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com