The Mozambican Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala, explained on Friday, December 22, that the flight between Lanseria, in South Africa, and Xai-Xai, in Gaza, is a “viable” and fast alternative for miners, as it will make it easier for them to travel.
“With this flight, we are providing our compatriots with a viable alternative for a regular connection with home soil, while at the same time opening up an opportunity for fast and more suitable transportation for South African tourists who come to Mozambican beaches,” said the government official.
Speaking during the inaugural flight dedicated especially to miners, the minister revealed that around 180 Mozambicans working in Africa’s mines had traveled in the first phase.
“With the miners in mind, Mozambique Airlines (LAM) has doubled the luggage limit per passenger to 46 kilos, and an agreement has been reached to ensure that miners’ goods are transported to their homes. We’re going to introduce air cargo transportation soon and then we’re going to give more value, attention, care and affection to our miners,” he said.
Mateus Magala expressed his intention to increase the frequency of flights to more than one a week, and therefore called for initiatives to attract more traffic to Filipe Jacinto Nyusi Airport and to maximize the business opportunities provided by the new route.
“For Filipe Jacinto Nyusi Airport, we urge the ongoing work to mobilize more traffic to this infrastructure to continue, and we are convinced that the foundations have been laid for Gaza province to make various initiatives viable that require the regular availability of air transport,” he said.
Filipe Jacinto Nyusi airport was inaugurated on November 11, 2021, but since then it has had practically no commercial activity, this being the first major operation at the infrastructure.
