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LAM
Powered chairs need the airline’s prior approval · carried free.
- Advance notice
- Not published
- Powered wheelchair
- Conditional
- Lithium, battery installed
- Not published
- Cost to carry
- Free
Who to contact
Transcribed from the airline’s own pages, exactly as it labels them.
- PhoneMozambique — Linha do Cliente (general customer line, short code 1737)Daily 05:00-20:00
- PhoneMozambique — Linha do Cliente (international format)Daily 05:00-20:00
- EmailLinha do Cliente (general customer line)
- Online form
LAM publishes no dedicated disability desk. The Linha do Cliente (1737) is the general reservations and information line; the site also directs passengers to the nearest LAM office or ticket agent for special-assistance arrangements.
Read it from the source
- Cadeiras de Rodas — wheelchair and battery acceptance (opens in a new tab)
- Mobilidade reduzida ou deficiência — assistance and acceptance conditions (opens in a new tab)
- Assistência Médica — wheelchair loading and medical costs (opens in a new tab)
- Bagagem de Cabine — free carriage of a wheelchair, folding chair in the cabin, delivery at the aircraft (opens in a new tab)
3 of the unanswered fields below share one explanation: LAM publishes no watt-hour figure of any kind, on any page — the dangerous-goods page defers to ICAO/IATA without reproducing a number, and the wheelchair page is written entirely in terms of spillable versus non-spillable batteries. The global ICAO/IATA fallback applies. The rest carry their own.
Powered wheelchairs & batteries
The part that goes wrong. Battery chemistry and watt-hours decide whether your chair flies, and the rules differ depending on whether the battery can be removed.
Electric wheelchairs are accepted only according to the battery type and provided the stated procedures are followed. Chairs with liquid-electrolyte (spillable) batteries are in principle not accepted; special requests require prior authorisation from LAM's Safety Department.
Cadeiras de Rodas (Wheelchairs) — baggage (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published. LAM's Cadeiras de Rodas page recognises only two battery classes — dry / non-spillable (accepted, terminals insulated, battery secured to the chair) and liquid-electrolyte (in principle refused, prior Safety Department approval). Lithium-ion is never named, on that page or on the Bens Perigosos, Bagagem de Cabine or Bagagem de Porão pages. A lithium user should not assume the 'dry battery' route applies — ring the Linha do Cliente (1737).
Cadeiras de Rodas (Wheelchairs) — baggage (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Bens Perigosos (Dangerous goods) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published. LAM says nothing about spare wheelchair batteries; nor does its cabin-baggage prohibited list, which mentions batteries only as « materiais corrosivos … não verter as baterias ».
The battery stays on the chair: for non-spillable batteries LAM requires that it be disconnected, its terminals insulated and that "a bateria esta devidamente presa a cadeira de rodas" (the battery is properly secured to the wheelchair). No removal into the cabin is described.
Cadeiras de Rodas (Wheelchairs) — baggage (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Dry / non-spillable batteries are accepted for carriage provided the battery is disconnected, the terminals are insulated against accidental short circuit and the battery is properly secured to the wheelchair. If it is not certain whether a battery is spillable, the liquid-electrolyte procedure must be applied.
Cadeiras de Rodas (Wheelchairs) — baggage (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
"Em principio, as baterias que contem electrolitos liquidos nao sao aceites para o transporte. Poderao ser considerados pedidos especiais, sendo que a sua aceitacao esta sujeita a autorizacao previa do Departamento de Seguranca da LAM." — in principle refused; special requests may be considered subject to prior authorisation from LAM's Safety Department.
Cadeiras de Rodas (Wheelchairs) — baggage (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
"A bateria deve ser desligada e os terminais deverao ser isolados para evitar curto-circuitos acidentais. Certifique-se de que a bateria esta devidamente presa a cadeira de rodas."
Cadeiras de Rodas (Wheelchairs) — baggage (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published. No battery spec sheet, MSDS, UN 38.3 report or label requirement appears. The only documentation LAM asks for is a medical report for severely disabled passengers and, in some cases, a signed « Formulário de responsabilidade »; a wet-battery chair additionally needs written authorisation from LAM's Safety Department.
Cadeiras de Rodas (Wheelchairs) — baggage (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
No maximum powered-wheelchair dimensions are published.
Not published for powered wheelchairs.
LAM makes no separate statement for powered chairs; « Cadeiras de roda » as a class are an « Entrega no avião » (delivery-at-aircraft) item, put into the hold at the aircraft on boarding and loaded last so they can be returned quickly on landing.
Assistência Médica (Medical assistance) — includes wheelchair loading (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Bagagem de Cabine (Cabin baggage) — free-of-charge mobility aids, folding wheelchair in cabin, 'Entrega no avião' list (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
A user of a chair with a liquid-electrolyte (wet) battery must obtain prior authorisation from LAM's Safety Department; the site gives no channel or lead time for doing so, so allow extra time via the Linha do Cliente or the nearest LAM office.
Manual wheelchairs
"As cadeiras de rodas dos passageiros serao sempre aceites pela LAM" (passengers' wheelchairs will always be accepted by LAM), and "Cadeiras de rodas sao aceites desde que os procedimentos sejam respeitados" (wheelchairs are accepted provided the procedures are followed).
Cadeiras de Rodas (Wheelchairs) — baggage (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Assistência Médica (Medical assistance) — includes wheelchair loading (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
A fully folding chair may go in the cabin, but LAM contradicts itself on the same page. « Um carrinho de bebé, uma cadeira de rodas completamente desdobrável e/ou muletas poderão ser transportadas na cabine ou no compartimento de carga do avião » — a completely foldable wheelchair may be carried in the cabin or in the hold. Two paragraphs earlier: « Atenção: As cadeiras de rodas deverão ser colocadas no Porão, aquando da entrada no avião. » Crutches and orthopaedic appliances are unambiguously hand baggage.
Bagagem de Cabine (Cabin baggage) — free-of-charge mobility aids, folding wheelchair in cabin, 'Entrega no avião' list (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
No wheelchair-specific in-cabin dimension is published. LAM's general cabin-baggage limit is 115 cm total (length + width + height) and 7 kg — per aircraft, 35 × 52 × 22 cm / 7 kg on the Boeing 737-700 and 35 × 40 × 22 cm / 5 kg on the Q400 and EMB-145 — but LAM expressly says a wheelchair carried for a passenger's mobility « não [é] considerad[a] como bagagem de cabine », so those figures are not the limit for a folding chair.
No maximum wheelchair dimensions are published.
Not published for mobility aids, and LAM says a wheelchair is carried free of charge outside the baggage allowance. The 23 kg (economy, 90 × 55 × 30 cm) / 32 kg (executive) figures on the hold-baggage and excess-baggage pages are the ordinary one-piece checked allowance.
Wheelchairs are an « Entrega no avião » (delivery-at-aircraft) item on LAM's cabin-baggage page, alongside pushchairs; « As cadeiras de rodas deverão ser colocadas no Porão, aquando da entrada no avião » — the chair is handed over at the aircraft on boarding — and it is loaded last « com vista a permitir a entrega rápida ao cliente assim que o avião aterrar no destino », so it can be returned to the customer as soon as the aircraft lands.
Assistência Médica (Medical assistance) — includes wheelchair loading (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29 Bagagem de Cabine (Cabin baggage) — free-of-charge mobility aids, folding wheelchair in cabin, 'Entrega no avião' list (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
LAM classifies passengers by mobility (able / unable to move unaided) and requires a companion aged 18+ for passengers who cannot board, deplane or move within the aircraft without help; that companion is responsible for providing the assistance the passenger needs during the journey. Severely disabled passengers may need a medical report supplied by the passenger, and some passengers must sign a 'Formulario de responsabilidade' (liability form). LAM does not issue a FREMEC card but accepts holders of a valid one without restriction.
Booking & cost
No deadline in hours is published. LAM asks that the passenger, a family member or a doctor notify it of any incapacity and request special assistance — in practice at booking. Group bookings of disabled passengers « poderá ser necessário receber uma autorização especial » and should contact the nearest LAM office. For a wet-battery chair, prior authorisation from LAM's Safety Department is required, again with no lead time given.
Mobilidade reduzida ou deficiência (Reduced mobility or disability) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
"Os passageiros, respectivos familiares ou medicos deverao informar a LAM sobre todas as situacoes de incapacidade ou invalidade, formulando um pedido de assistencia especial." (Translated from Portuguese.) A request may also be raised by airline staff, airport authorities or travel agents who know the passenger.
Mobilidade reduzida ou deficiência (Reduced mobility or disability) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Free. LAM's cabin-baggage page lists, among the items 'transportados livres de encargos' that are not counted as cabin baggage, « Uma cadeira de rodas e/ou muletas, sempre que tal for indispensável para a mobilidade do passageiro, assim como dispositivos ortopédicos ou próteses » — one wheelchair and/or crutches, plus orthopaedic devices or prostheses, carried free of charge whenever indispensable to the passenger's mobility.
Bagagem de Cabine (Cabin baggage) — free-of-charge mobility aids, folding wheelchair in cabin, 'Entrega no avião' list (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
« Uma cadeira de rodas e/ou muletas … assim como dispositivos ortopédicos ou próteses » — one wheelchair, plus crutches and any orthopaedic device or prosthesis, carried free and outside the baggage allowance. LAM does not say what happens if a passenger needs two chairs.
Bagagem de Cabine (Cabin baggage) — free-of-charge mobility aids, folding wheelchair in cabin, 'Entrega no avião' list (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published as a figure. LAM's only instruction is to report any violation, damage, loss or irregularity at the Perdidos & Achados (lost and found) desk on arrival, before leaving the arrivals hall, to formalise the claim. No Montreal Convention limit, SDR figure, declared-value option or mobility-aid rule appears anywhere on the site, and LAM publishes no conditions of carriage document.
Bagagem perdida, danificada ou extraviada (Lost, damaged or mishandled baggage) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
On board
Not published. No on-board or aisle wheelchair is mentioned on the reduced-mobility, medical-assistance, wheelchair or cabin-baggage pages. LAM's answer to in-cabin mobility is an 18+ companion: a passenger « sem capacidades para se deslocar pelos seus próprios meios » must travel with one, and that companion « será responsável por fornecer o auxílio necessário ao passageiro durante a viagem ».
Not published. No aircraft in LAM's published fleet (Boeing 737-700, Q400, EMB-145) is described as having an accessible lavatory, and LAM requires a companion for anyone who cannot move about the cabin unaided.
Not published as a LAM service, and effectively declined. LAM classifies passengers by whether they can board, deplane and move inside the aircraft unaided; those who cannot must bring a companion aged 18+ who « será responsável por fornecer o auxílio necessário ao passageiro durante a viagem ». No statement is made about LAM staff lifting or transferring a passenger.
Mobilidade reduzida ou deficiência (Reduced mobility or disability) (opens in a new tab) · read 2026-07-29
Not published. LAM says nothing about movable armrests, bulkhead seats or seat assignment for disabled passengers. Group bookings of disabled passengers are capped by « número máximo de passageiros permitidos a bordo como parte do grupo » and may need special authorisation from the nearest LAM office.
Fleet detail. LAM's published cabin-baggage tables name a Boeing 737-700, Q400 and EMB-145 fleet (older text also mentions the Boeing 737-200 and Embraer 190). No hold-door aperture, hold-compartment volume or maximum wheelchair size is published for any of them; passengers with unusually sized baggage are told to agree it with the reservations office at booking (« Os passageiros que pretendem transportar bagagens de dimensões invulgares deverão chegar a um acordo aquando da sua reserva »).
Worth knowing
Linhas Aereas de Mocambique (LAM) publishes only a Portuguese site; there is no English version, and all values here are translated from Portuguese. Coverage is unusually good on batteries by type (dry/non-spillable accepted with terminals insulated and the battery secured to the chair; liquid-electrolyte in principle refused, prior Safety Department approval required) but is silent on lithium-ion entirely, which is the battery type in most modern power chairs — a lithium user should not assume the 'dry battery' route applies. Three further points a traveller should weigh: (1) severely disabled passengers may be required to produce a medical report, and some are asked to sign a 'liability form'; (2) a passenger who cannot move unaided must bring a companion aged 18+, and that companion, not LAM, provides in-flight assistance; (3) a LAM assistant for blind or deaf passengers is chargeable. LAM does not publish whether carrying the wheelchair itself is free — that is a notable gap and should be confirmed with the Linha do Cliente. The site's dangerous-goods page defers to ICAO/IATA without publishing any figures. Deepening pass (2026-07-29): the page that actually answers the money questions is Bagagem de Cabine, which the first pass never opened. It puts « uma cadeira de rodas e/ou muletas, sempre que tal for indispensável para a mobilidade do passageiro » on the list of items carried FREE OF CHARGE and not counted as cabin baggage (so fee_charged is now false and devices_per_passenger 1); it lists « Cadeiras de roda » among the « Entrega no avião » delivery-at-aircraft items (gate delivery now true); and it says a « cadeira de rodas completamente desdobrável » may travel in the cabin OR the hold — while three paragraphs earlier warning « Atenção: As cadeiras de rodas deverão ser colocadas no Porão, aquando da entrada no avião ». That contradiction is recorded as conditional, not as a promise. Still genuinely unpublished after checking every baggage, special-needs, FAQ and ticket page on the site: any watt-hour figure, any lithium-ion rule, any weight or dimension limit for a chair, any advance-notice deadline in hours, any baggage-liability figure (LAM publishes no conditions of carriage at all), any aisle chair and any accessible-lavatory statement.
Sources
Every figure above traces to one of these.
- s1 Cadeiras de Rodas (Wheelchairs) — baggage (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s2 Mobilidade reduzida ou deficiência (Reduced mobility or disability) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s3 Assistência Médica (Medical assistance) — includes wheelchair loading (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s4 Linha do Cliente (Customer line) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s5 Invisuais e Surdos (Blind and deaf passengers) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s6 Bens Perigosos (Dangerous goods) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s7 Fale Connosco (Contact us form) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s8 Bagagem perdida, danificada ou extraviada (Lost, damaged or mishandled baggage) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s9 Bagagem de Cabine (Cabin baggage) — free-of-charge mobility aids, folding wheelchair in cabin, 'Entrega no avião' list (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s10 Excesso de Bagagem (Excess baggage) — free checked allowance (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
- s11 FAQ's — Necessidades Especiais (special-needs FAQ) (opens in a new tab) · official · read 2026-07-29
Record quality
Record status researched · confidence medium · 11 official sources · 4 contacts · 44% of the fields this reference tracks are answered. Newest source read 29 July 2026, the day before this page was built. What these mean.