Air Namibia (Windhoek International) General Manager (Commercial Services) Xavier Masule told a Namibian parliamentary committee that the national carrier required between NAD2.5 billion and NAD3 billion dollars (USD175-210 million) investment from the government to restore profitability.

According to a report by Namibia's New Era, Masule told the committee members that a capital injection would be much more sustainable than subsidies.

The former would essentially be covering operating expenses such as operating leases, aircraft maintenance, and fuel costs. Through a capital injection, the government would, in turn, invest in capital assets such as aircraft or MRO facilities for example. These would then "remove the burden for aircraft ownership costs from operating revenue, strengthen the balance sheet and lay a solid foundation for the future," according to Masule.

Having already converted its four E135s from operating leases, Air Namibia also hopes to acquire its four A319-100s and two A330-200s from the lessors to reduce operating costs. The carrier also plans to invest in training and cargo handling facilities and to increase the utilisation rate of its fleet.

According to the Windhoek Observer, Masule added that the carrier's Windhoek-Frankfurt International and Windhoek-Luanda 4 De Fevereiro routes contributed most to the carrier's losses. By changing the schedule of its Frankfurt route to operate it with a single A330-200, the flag carrier would be able to either launch a new route with the second widebody aircraft or to sub-lease the Airbus widebody to another operator.

Air Namibia is studying services to China via Luanda or the resumption of a route to London via either Accra or Harare International.

The Patriot further reported that Masule also bemoaned the operating time and infrastructure restrictions at various Namibian airports such as Windhoek Eros, which closes at 2100L (1900Z) each night. Ondangwa, in turn, is still not able to support A319 operations despite having enough demand for the narrowbody aircraft.