Armando Miguel Bango – “Thesky’snotthelimit, it’sjustthebeginning”

In 1991, Armando Miguel Bango, an International Relations student, had no idea that a simple academic project on aviation would lead him to a 34-year career at Mozambique Airlines (LAM). The topic of his work was “Cooperation in International Civil Aviation, within the framework of SADCC”, and Mozambique, as coordinator of SATCC, was at the center of this study. To get a better understanding of the field, he decided to do an internship at LAM’s Legal Office. “That’s when aviation came into my life, without even knowing it,” he recalls.

Right from the start, Bango had the opportunity to follow the acquisition of the Boeing 737-300 and 767-200ER, a milestone for the company. And it was in 1993 that his career at LAM took a turn. Carlos Morgado, the company’s commercial director at the time, invited him to join his team. “At the age of 24, I accepted the invitation and found myself in a completely new world. I was responsible for areas such as fares, regulation and passenger sales. And that’s how I fell in love with aviation,” says Bango.

The big challenge came in the early 2000s, when LAM was undergoing a strategic restructuring. The company was looking to reposition itself on the global market, forging partnerships with aviation giants such as TAP and SAA. Bango was a crucial part of this movement, which even included operating a Boeing 747-SP on the Johannesburg-Mozambique-Lisbon routes. “It was a period of great change. The focus was on relaunching LAM on the international stage and we had to be fast and efficient,” he says.

Today, after more than three decades of work, Bango holds the position of Commercial Freight Manager. His main responsibility is to guarantee logistical solutions for the transportation of goods, dealing with a global and complex market. “It’s like being a fashion designer. Each cargo has a unique need and our mission is to create tailor-made solutions for each client,” he explains.

But his motivation goes beyond commercial operations. For Bango, LAM is an essential pillar for Mozambique’s economy. “Every day, we transport much more than passengers. We carry vaccines, medicines, electoral material, essential goods. LAM is vital to the country’s development, even when the financial results aren’t the best,” he says with conviction.

Bango’s future is linked to his dream of creating LAMCARGO, an exclusive air cargo transportation division. “LAMCARGO is an opportunity to expand LAM’s presence in the global market and strengthen our brand. I want to ensure that LAM is recognized as a benchmark in logistics transport,” he shares.

Throughout his career, Bango has learned that true success is not measured by numbers alone. “What satisfies me most is knowing that, through my work, I’ve helped make dreams and needs come true. Every load transported is a small victory, not just for LAM, but for everyone who depends on us,” he comments. For him, “the sky is not the limit, it’s just the beginning”.

Edição 85 NOV/DEZ| Download.