Solenta Aviation Mozambique has received official approval to operate scheduled domestic services under the Fastjet Mozambique brand, following the issuance of a long awaited licence by the country’s civil aviation regulator, the Autoridade Reguladora da Aviação Civil de Moçambique (IACM).
The approval, granted on 17 December 2025, marks a significant development in Mozambique’s aviation landscape, signalling a gradual liberalisation of the country’s air transport market. In a statement shared with ch-aviation, Solenta Aviation Mozambique confirmed that it would review the terms and conditions attached to the licence before outlining its operational plans. The company’s initial focus will be on strengthening domestic connectivity across key regional centres.
This milestone follows the Mozambican Council of Ministers’ approval of a new decree on 16 December that modernises the regulatory framework governing air transport. The decree enhances the IACM’s oversight capabilities, allowing it to manage market access, set fare limits for domestic routes, and ensure compliance with international aviation standards. The move is expected to create a more competitive environment for carriers seeking to operate within the country while maintaining high safety and service standards.
Solenta Aviation Mozambique, which already holds an unscheduled Air Operator’s Certificate, has been active in the Mozambican aviation sector since 2009. The company has provided aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) services, as well as charter operations for clients in the oil, gas, and mining industries. The newly revived Fastjet Mozambique initiative was initially expected to commence scheduled flights in mid 2025 using two Embraer E145 aircraft under a franchise agreement with the Fastjet Group. However, regulatory delays postponed the launch.
The Fastjet Group’s network includes Fastjet Zimbabwe, Federal Airlines in South Africa, and a central holding company based in Johannesburg. Solenta Aviation, headquartered at Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport, is both a shareholder and operational partner in the group, reflecting an expanding pan African model of airline collaboration and regional connectivity.
Fastjet Mozambique’s re entry into the domestic market comes more than six years after the original iteration of the airline ceased operations in October 2019. The earlier venture folded amid excess capacity in the market and the economic impact of tropical cyclones Idai and Kenneth. Its revival is being viewed as part of a broader recalibration of Mozambique’s aviation sector, which has long been dominated by the state owned Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM).
LAM is currently undertaking a restructuring programme that includes fleet renewal, with the acquisition of two Embraer E190 aircraft aimed at improving operational efficiency. The airline’s recovery follows years of financial and managerial instability, and its resurgence will likely shape the competitive dynamics of the domestic market as new entrants prepare to launch services.
The opening of Mozambique’s skies to additional operators underscores a growing trend across Africa toward pragmatic liberalisation of national aviation sectors. This shift, while cautious, reflects an emerging recognition of the role regional air connectivity plays in fostering economic development, trade, and mobility within and between African states. The Fastjet Mozambique development therefore stands not merely as a corporate milestone but as part of a wider continental narrative of renewed confidence in African aviation governance and capacity building.
