In May 2018
Ethiopian Airlines publicized its intent to establish a subsidiary based in Mozambique as part of its expansion plan entitled Vision 2025, which seeks to amplify connectivity across the African continent. Ethiopian Mozambique Airlines (EMA) became the third carrier to operate in the Mozambican domestic market, following
LAM Mozambique Airlines and
Fastjet. The LAM trade union protested against the creation of the airline, claiming that it was essentially an Ethiopian carrier being allowed to operate flights within another country. The union elaborated that EMA would solely benefit the Ethiopian economy rather than the Mozambican one. The
Mozambique Civil Aviation Institute, which regulates commercial aviation in the country, rejected the union's argument; it indicated that EMA was registered in Mozambique and had followed the standard certification process. EMA initiated its services on 1 December 2018 utilizing two
Q400 turboprop aircraft. On 6 May 2021 the company ceased all its operations. The company tells in a statement: “Despite the challenges, Ethiopian Mozambique Airlines remained resiliently operational until the economic effects of the pandemic became so severe that they made it impossible to continue due to the drastic drop in demand for travel in the domestic market.” ==Destinations==