The Namibian government’s plans to establish a new national carrier have progressed with Namibia Air submitting licence applications.
According to a July 8 Government Gazette, Namibia Air has submitted applications to the Transport Commission of Namibia for Scheduled Air Services and Non-Scheduled Air Services licences.
If approved, Namibia Air intends to operate domestic, regional and intercontinental services from bases at Hosea Kutako International Airport and Eros Airport in Windhoek.
Its proposed scheduled network includes domestic services linking Windhoek, Eros, Ondangwa, Rundu, Mpacha, Lüderitz, Oranjemund and Walvis Bay.
Regional routes could connect Windhoek with Johannesburg, Cape Town, Luanda, Gaborone, Durban, Victoria Falls, Harare, Livingstone, Lusaka, Maun and Kasane.
Aviation expert, Sean Mendis, told Travel News that there was a clear need for improved domestic air connectivity in Namibia, despite the mixed track record of government-backed airlines.
"While government-backed airlines generally have a poor track record, there is no doubt that there is a need for a public service utility providing better domestic connectivity within Namibia in particular. So long as the objective remains to provide connectivity and mission creep towards competing against private sector operators doesn't happen, this plan can generally be positive.”
Mendis cautioned, however, that regional expansion would require careful route planning and professional management.
"Regional connectivity is important but this is where political concerns often wind up trumping commercial realities. There needs to be professional management and dispassionate analysis of the potential and success of these routes for this to work."
The airline plans to acquire a fleet of seven Embraer regional jets, comprising four ERJ145 aircraft, estimated at US$3 million (R50,5 million) each, and three E170/E175 aircraft, estimated at US$8 million (R134,7 million) each. The applications indicate that Namibia Air does not currently own or lease any aircraft.
Although the applications do not specify a proposed launch date, The Namibian reports that Namibia Air is expected to launch by late 2026, succeeding Air Namibia, which was liquidated in 2021.
