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Mozambique and Portugal have ended the monopoly enjoyed by LAM Mozambique Airlines and TAP Air Portugal on direct flights between the two countries.

The two countries revised a 2010 agreement which ultimately opens the door for more airlines to provide connections.

Chairman of the Civil Aviation Institute of Mozambique (IACM), João de Abreu told Lusa: “This revision consisted essentially of changing the point on ‘mono designation’ to ‘multiple designation’, so that each state may now designate more than one airline for air links between the two countries.”

The revised Air Transport Agreement was due to work undertaken in Lisbon in May by technical groups from the two states’ regulatory authorities and was signed in June when the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, visited Mozambique, however was only publicised recently.

Lusa further quoted de Abreu saying: “We noticed that there was great change in the air sector on both sides, and it became necessary to update the agreement.”

Currently, only TAP offers direct flights between Portugal and Mozambique, linking Maputo and Lisbon, the respective capitals.

According to de Abreu, the revision ensures that, for example, a Portuguese operator wanting to fly to Mozambique is not limited to Maputo, but can fly direct to any other part of the country that has an international airport. The same will apply in Portugal.

Aviation sector agreements between the two countries further provide for the training of technical staff and cooperation in investigating flying accidents.

Source: tourismupdate.co.za