Namibia is moving forward with plans to launch a new national airline, but it will not revive the defunct Air Namibia name.
This as revealed by works and transport Minister Veikko Nekundi.
Speaking to New Era last week, he said the focus is on building a new, sustainable airline from the ground up and not returning to the past.
“As I already said, we are not reviving Air Namibia. We are reviving a national airline. Once we are at the appropriate time, we shall then look at the appropriate name,” he said.
Air Namibia, once the country’s flag carrier, was liquidated in 2021 after years of financial losses.
Nekundi pointed to “serious mismanagement” and “a lack of accountability” as key reasons for its collapse.
“There were manoeuvres that led to the closure of Air Namibia. It did not die a natural death. The way it was handled was not in the best interest of the company or the nation,” he said.
Despite the past, he expressed strong confidence in the success of a new national carrier, provided it is run with proper oversight.
“We see no reason why a national airline cannot be self-sustainable if managed with good governance and sound business principles. If we make decisions that are in the best interest of the company, the taxpayer and Namibia, the airline will flourish,” he said.
He added that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah fully supports the revival and there is no doubt that the airline will take off again this time with a stronger foundation.
While Nekundi could not provide an exact launch date, he said the process is well underway.
“We are in an advanced stage. Possibly give us a month or two, and we should be able to give a clearer indication,” he said.
The new airline is expected to strengthen Namibia’s aviation sector, boost tourism as well as improve regional and international connectivity.
Speaking at the opening of the 24th Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair, the President stated that while Namibia’s road network is well developed, other transport sectors lag, reaffirming the government’s commitment to bring back a national carrier.
“Significant achievements have been made in road transport infrastructure as we relate to tyre roads to all our neighbours. However, a lot must be done on the rail network and air services sectors. All efforts will be done in the improvement of our rail and reintroduction of a national airline,” she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah warned that weak transport links remain a key obstacle to trade and could limit the country’s ability to benefit fully from the African Continental Free Trade Area.
This follows Swapo’s 2024 election manifesto, which calls for the revival of “the national airline under very well-thought-out strategies to avoid pitfalls of the past”.
In February, the Namibian Cabinet endorsed the incorporation of the Swapo manifesto into government policies.