Airlink (South Africa) (4Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) has bought 40% of privately-owned FlyNamibia (WV, Windhoek Eros) for an undisclosed amount in a strategic equity partnership punted to fill the short- and medium-haul regional market gap left by the collapse of Air Namibia (Windhoek International).

FlyNamibia will also adopt Airlink's "4Z" International Air Transport Association (IATA) designator for its ticket sales and scheduled flights under a commercial franchise agreement. It will continue to operate under its own commercial risk.

Namibia's only scheduled carrier will retain its own corporate identity, brand, and aircraft livery. As reported, FlyNamibia has set its sights on expanding as far as Ghana in West Africa, Kenya and Malawi in East Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Central Africa. Airlink already has an extensive regional network of more than 45 destinations in 13 countries throughout Southern Africa, Madagascar (currently suspended due to COVID-linked travel restrictions), and St. Helena Island.

FlyNamibia's inventory will be promoted on Airlink's reservation system and through its international codeshare partnerships. The changes will come into effect as soon as practicable, according to an announcement made at a news conference in Windhoek on September 28, 2022.

Airlink will also provide additional airline operations, technical and commercial skills training, and development support to FlyNamibia.

"Airlink sees the benefit in establishing a sustainable common branded network air transport system throughout the region. It has been discussed in many forums that the way to achieve this is through collaborative partnerships between the more established airlines and smaller carriers that deliver scale and the associated efficiencies that lead to robustness. We believe this relationship will spawn others within the region," commented Airlink Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Rodger Foster.

Foster first disclosed to ch-aviation in February 2022 that Airlink planned to establish a domestic operation in Namibia in search of more capacity in the vast southwest African country.

"Namibia is unique, not only in its natural, mineral, and human wealth but its relatively small population relative to the size of its territory. With this in mind, we will be well-placed to achieve the economies of scale to make it economically feasible to connect and serve Namibia's smaller towns and cities with Windhoek and other regional destinations while providing convenient and easy access to other markets around the world. This will also support our and Namibia's shared longer-term ambition to establish Windhoek as a central connecting hub and base. In doing so, we will help to make air travel and transport more efficient and enhance Namibia's competitive position as a destination for trade and tourism," Foster said.

"Namibia's economy is expanding and has the potential to grow rapidly with new offshore drilling and mining, the resurgence in tourism, and its establishment as a pioneering producer of green hydrogen for the global energy market. To realise its full economic potential, Namibia will depend increasingly upon air connectivity to move people and goods between markets. By joining hands with Airlink and becoming part of its global network, we will be even better able to serve foreign and local tourists and businesses. In addition, we will be building capacity, developing aviation skills and creating direct and indirect job opportunities," added FlyNamibia's newly-appointed Managing Director, André Compion.

Airlink and FlyNamibia will optimise their schedules to provide the most convenient connections between their respective flights and with long-haul intercontinental flights provided by Airlink's other commercial partners, which include more than 20 of the world's leading global airlines.

From its Johannesburg O.R. Tambo hub, Airlink serves Windhoek International up to 4x daily and Walvis Bay daily. From Cape Town International, Airlink operates up to 3x daily to Windhoek and daily to Walvis Bay.

FlyNamibia operates domestic flights from Windhoek Eros to Ondangwa, Rundu, and Katima Mulilo, and 6x weekly flights from Windhoek to Cape Town.

FlyNamibia is the scheduled airline division of Westair Aviation (WAA, Windhoek Eros), established in 1967, initially as an aircraft maintenance facility.