• Mozambique has taken a step towards establishing air links with São Tomé and Príncipe and Guinea-Bissau by signing agreements that create the legal conditions for operations, although they do not yet guarantee direct flights

Mozambique has signed air services agreements with São Tomé and Príncipe and Guinea-Bissau to establish the legal conditions for opening connections between the three countries, in an initiative that could facilitate the movement of people and goods and boost tourism and investment across the Portuguese-speaking world.

Speaking to Lusa, the president of the Mozambique Civil Aviation Authority, Emanuel José Chaves, clarified that the instruments establish the legal framework necessary for operations but do not mean that direct flights will begin immediately.

“The agreements create the legal environment for these operations to take place,” he said, explaining that it will be up to the airlines to assess demand and the commercial viability of the routes, and that they may launch their own connections or establish partnerships with other carriers.

Currently, Mozambique has no direct flights to São Tomé and Príncipe or Guinea-Bissau, with travel between these destinations generally involving stopovers, particularly in Lisbon or Luanda. The establishment of new connections could reduce travel time and costs, although realising this potential will depend on demand and the profitability of the operations.

The agreements define the general operating conditions, including authorised destinations, while the memoranda of understanding govern procedures between the aviation authorities. According to Chaves, Mozambique is also negotiating similar instruments with other countries.

CPLP seeks to strengthen air connectivity

The agreements were signed on the sidelines of a seminar on the development of civil aviation in Portuguese-speaking countries, taking place in Maputo and bringing together representatives and specialists from member states of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).

At the opening of the meeting, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Irina Ribeiro, called for stronger technical cooperation through the sharing of experience, specialised training and the harmonisation of procedures.

The initiative seeks to turn cooperation between Portuguese-speaking countries into connections with a tangible economic impact. However, signing the agreements is only the first step: the actual launch of the routes will depend on the airlines’ commercial decisions and on there being enough passengers to sustain the operations.