01.03.2023 - 10:08 UTC
Following a public backlash over its objection to the establishment of Fly Etosha, FlyNamibia has formally withdrawn its objection against the startup's license application lodged with the Transport Commission of Namibia.
"We have taken into consideration the public sentiment towards our objection, and being cognizant of the fact that the Namibian public is a key stakeholder in our company, the FlyNamibia board has made the decision to reconsider its approach and to withdraw its objection to the Fly Etosha application, allowing the application to be duly and objectively evaluated by the Transportation Commission on its own merit," Managing Director André Compion said in a statement.
Compion said the airline's objection was a standard operating procedure. "It is practice and process in the aviation industry, as with most regulated industries in Namibia, for a proposed undertaking, such as the launch of a new airline, to be gazetted, thus allowing for public comment and/or objection." He added: "The Namibian law allows stakeholders to make objections to applications as part of the governance process to ensure that the general...
23.02.2023 - 12:34 UTC
Namibian President Hage Geingob has met with Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa) top executives to explore how the carrier could assist the Namibian government in reviving its defunct national airline, Air Namibia (Windhoek International), reports The Namibian newspaper.
According to Geingob's spokesman Alfredo Hengari, the Namibian leader met with Ethiopian Airlines' chairman, Girma Wake, and Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tasew in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the 36th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government held on February 18 and 19.
Hengari said the meeting had been “prospective”. Geingob had highlighted a roadmap to revive the airline.
During his address at the AU summit, Geingob also reiterated the sentiment of the ruling South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO) that Namibia needed a national airline. He said a clear plan would be tabled at Cabinet-level for decision-making and operationalisation.
Air Namibia was liquidated in 2021 following years of incurring losses running into billions through mismanagement.
Hengari said: “The relevant ministries will lead the...
17.02.2023 - 05:31 UTC
Plans by Fly Etosha (Windhoek Eros) to debut around June 2023 on domestic and regional routes have hit a snag with its main competitor FlyNamibia opposing its license application, citing the startup's alleged "lack of financial resources, aircraft, maintenance facilities, ground handling services, insurance cover, and personnel".
In a statement shared with ch-aviation, FlyNamibia said it had lodged a formal objection to FlyEtosha's plans with the Transportation Commission of Namibia on February 14, 2023. In doing so, it exercised its right to object to a new license application as per the country's Air Services Act.
As first reported by ch-aviation, Fly Etosha plans to conduct domestic, regional, and international flights from Windhoek International and Windhoek Eros. It intends to operate a varied fleet of 33 aircraft, including regional turboprops and a mixture of leased narrowbodies and widebodies.
Domestic destinations would include Windhoek, Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo/Caprivi, Walvis Bay, Luderitz and Oranjemund. The regional network would include Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls, plus Johannesburg O.R....
Editorial Comment: Added comment from Fly Etosha to FlyNamibia's objection. - 17.02.2023 - 10:24 UTC
16.01.2023 - 11:03 UTC
Namibian aircraft lessor Wings Aviation Services has acquired two ex-Air Namibia E135s, the liquidators have confirmed to the Namibian Sun, but there appears to be bad blood from bidders who lost out on the sale.
According to ch-aviation research, Wings Aviation Services (Proprietary) Limited has been registered in Namibia (then South West Africa) since March 5, 1957. Two of its directors, Wolfgang Grellmann and Gustav Holz, are also the founder/chairman and group managing director, respectively, of the WestAir Group, a 40% shareholder of FlyNamibia (WV, Windhoek Eros).
Grellman and Holz confirmed to the Namibian Sun that Wings Aviation Services had purchased the jets but said they could not immediately be put into service as they were not airworthy. They had stood for more than three years and needed complete refurbishment and heavy maintenance. Once repaired, they would be leased out to clients, the list of which included FlyNamibia.
“Wings Aviation Services is a 100% Namibian-owned aircraft leasing company. It holds a number of aircraft that [are] being leased to airlines and aviation...
