Namibia's FlyWestair eyes int'l expansion after Jo'burg

Namibia confirms liquidation of flag carrier

The Namibian government has confirmed it has decided to liquidate Air Namibia (SW, Windhoek Int'l) as it can no longer afford to support it at the expense of national economic recovery, however, it has not closed the door on starting another airline in the future should it suit the country’s developmental goals.

At a press conference streamed live from the capital, Windhoek, Finance Minister Ipumbu Shiimi said the Cabinet had not made the decision lightly, but the airline's debt was unsustainable and a continued bailout would have put the country’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery plan at risk. “The decision to liquidate was not taken lightly. All options were considered,” he said. This had included engagement with other airlines for potential investment/partnerships and various business plans to turnaround the company. “The Government believes that the decision taken is in the long-term interest of the country, taking into consideration the loss-making history of the national airline,” he said. Namibia to date has forked out NAD8 billion Namibian dollars (USD547 million) to bail out the flag carrier, while a turnaround plan...

Air Namibia resumes international flights

Air Namibia (SW, Windhoek Int'l) has announced it will resume flights from Windhoek Int'l to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo and Cape Town from October 28, 2020, using a 37-seater EMB-135ER.

The airline used to operate A319-100s to South Africa but has decided on the lower gauge aircraft due to depressed demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said spokesperson, Twaku Kayofa. He said Air Namibia would increase capacity as demand grew during the upcoming high season summer holidays in the region.

He said a non-stop flight (SW723) to Johannesburg would depart 3x weekly. Flights to Cape Town would operate 2x weekly: SW703 non-stop and SW715 via Walvis Bay.

The airline has been operating three EMB-135s on domestic routes from Windhoek Eros to Walvis Bay, Ondangwa, Caprivi, and Rundu. Insiders said the resumption of international services became possible after the airline's fourth EMB-135 became available after undergoing routine maintenance at Air Namibia's Eros hangar. According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Air Namibia operates three A319-100...

Africa airline suspensions, country closures 23-29MAR

Namibia's Westair Aviation unveils FlyWestair brand

Westair Aviation (WV, Windhoek Eros) has announced it will operate its upcoming scheduled flight services under the FlyWestair brand.

The Namibian Part 121 and 135-certificated carrier said in a press release that the move had been made possible after it was granted Designated Carrier status by the Namibian Transport Commission.

FlyWestair's inaugural scheduled routes - the 3x weekly Windhoek Eros-Oranjemund - is slated to launch on June 24.

The carrier has been allocated rights to connect Eros with Walvis Bay and Ondangwa domestically as well as Cape Town (from Oranjemund and Windhoek) and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (from Eros and Walvis Bay) regionally. Subject to agreements being reached with the relevant authorities and service providers, the local flights are planned to start from July 2019 while international flights are planned from August 2019.

Operations are on-board E145 equipment of which Westair Aviation operates four.

Westair Aviation had previously operated scheduled flights to mining destinations as part of a contract awarded to it by DEBMARINE...