LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM, Maputo) may return to the longhaul market in 2020, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has said.

Speaking in Lisbon last week during a state visit to Portugal, Nyusi said there had been a lot of requests for the carrier to re-enter the Maputo-Lisbon market which, at present, is controlled by TAP Air Portugal (TP, Lisbon).

"Possibly in March, LAM Mozambique Airlines will be able to fly again to this country, to Lisbon, if there are no setbacks," he was quoted by O Pais newspaper.

Given that LAM has no aircraft in its fleet currently capable of serving Europe, the route may be operated in partnership with TAP or "another company", the President added.

LAM last served Europe in April 2011 when Mozambique was blacklisted by the European Union. At the time, it used a B767-300(ER) to run the Maputo-Lisbon route 2x weekly.

State-owned LAM currently operates two B737-700s, two E190s, and three E145s on scheduled flights throughout Mozambique as well as to South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya.