LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM, Maputo) has issued an international tender for the short-term wet lease of five undisclosed aircraft as part of its ongoing investment plan to boost operational efficiency and service quality on national and regional routes.
The airline said in a statement that applicants, preferably IOSA-registered operators, must meet several eligibility conditions, including declarations that they have not defrauded any public or private entity in Mozambique or elsewhere, have no conflicts of interest, are not blacklisted, and do not hold capital derived from illegal activities.
Bidders must also submit financial statements for the past three years, proof of regulatory compliance, and references from at least three clients for whom they have delivered comparable services in the past five years. The tender is open to both local and foreign companies.
Interested parties must apply electronically by 1500L (1300Z) on August 22, 2025. RFP documents can be requested via email.
The loss-making Mozambican national carrier is currently being restructured under the oversight of international aviation consultancy Knighthood Global, which had issued a tender in June for the purchase, finance lease, or operating lease of five B737-700s to address persistent capacity shortfalls at LAM. Proposals were due by June 20, but no announcements were made afterwards. Preferred options at the time were mid-life jets with recent D-checks, dual-class seating for 120-140 passengers, ETOPS 120 certification, EASA and FAA certification, and availability for staged delivery by October 2025.
The call followed the cancellation in April over allegations of corruption of a February tender for seven aircraft, namely three pre-owned E190s and four pre-owned B737-700s.
Mozambique's government has launched a forensic audit into the finances of its troubled flag carrier over the past decade, with a deadline for completion set for October.
In February, the government sold 91% of LAM’s equity to three state-owned entities as part of a last-ditch rescue plan for the debt-ridden airline.
According to ch-aviation and ADS-B data, LAM's current active in-house fleet has dwindled to one DHC-8-Q400.
It already relies heavily on wet leases, including one B737-500, TL-VIP (msn 26538), operated by Via Air RCA on domestic routes since May 5, and CRJ900LR ZS-CMR (msn 15398), operated by CemAir domestically and on the only remaining regional route to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo. Two more leased Q400s are in maintenance and stored respectively, according to ch-aviation data.
