Air Connect Namibia, the collaborative air service development initiative led by the Namibia Airports Company (NAC), this week reiterated the economic importance of air connectivity. The country is rapidly reshaping its global reach, nearly doubling its international air connectivity in just a few years and emerging as one of southern Africa’s most compelling aviation growth stories.
This expansion is more than an aviation milestone; it is a strategic enabler of long-term economic opportunity, reinforcing Namibia’s position as a premier tourism and investment destination while opening new pathways to global markets.
At an event in the capital this week, the chairperson of Air Connect Namibia and the chief executive officer of the NAC, Bisey /Uirab, emphasised the catalytic role aviation plays in driving tangible growth and increased investment.
“The outcomes achieved through Air Connect Namibia demonstrate what is possible when we work collaboratively toward a shared vision for our country. In a short period, we have nearly doubled Namibia’s international connectivity and positioned ourselves as the leading aviation growth story in the region. These results reflect real impact. Improved access to markets enables long term economic opportunities, while better connectivity strengthens Namibia’s position as a leading tourism and investment destination,” said /Uirab.
Aviation connection
Since 2023, Namibia has added the most new aviation connections to international cities among southern African countries. It has also achieved the largest capacity growth, around 18%, among countries in the region without a designated flag carrier. This performance underscores the effectiveness of Namibia’s collaborative, market-driven approach to air service development and positions the country as a regional benchmark.
Namibia’s aviation growth is underpinned by a strong demand. From January 2025 to October 2025, passenger numbers grew by 11%, building on momentum from 2024, when Namibia surpassed one million origin-destination passengers, also an 11% increase on the previous year. This sustained growth reflects rising confidence in Namibia as a destination for business, tourism, and investment, and highlights the importance of reliable, competitive air access in unlocking demand.
This view was echoed this week by Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, who described aviation as a critical driver of economic growth, trade and investment, and a gateway connecting Namibia to the world. He noted that for a geographically vast country strategically located at the southern tip of Africa, aviation bridges tourism and economic centres with regional hubs, rural communities and international markets.
Namibia remains a long-haul destination for many strategic source markets in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. For these markets, speed and reliability are essential. Aviation provides the efficiency required to keep Namibia competitive in a global economy where time is increasingly scarce.
Air Connect Namibia
Since its establishment in 2024, Air Connect Namibia has driven record passenger growth, attracted new international airlines and routes, and demonstrated how improved access can accelerate national development.
In 2023, Namibia’s airports served 10 international destinations. By mid-2026, that number is expected to rise to 17 through direct or non-stop services, effectively almost doubling the international connectivity within three years.
Over the past 24 months alone, several new and expanded services have been secured. These include Proflight Zambia’s Lusaka–Livingstone–Windhoek route launching in March 2026, Edelweiss’ Zurich–Windhoek service expected mid-2026, and Discover Airlines’ Munich–Windhoek route introduced in 2025. Regionally, FlySafair launched a Cape Town–Windhoek service, marking Namibia’s first low-cost international connection, while South African Airways, Airlink and Fly Angola have expanded or added services linking Namibia more closely with key regional hubs.
Collectively, these commitments have added more than 120 000 new international seats to Namibia’s network, significantly improving access for travellers, investors and cargo, and reducing the friction of distance that has historically constrained growth.
International relations
Stronger air links also enhance regional integration, facilitating trade, business travel and cultural exchange with neighbouring countries. In this way, aviation supports not only national development but also Namibia’s regional influence and continental connectivity.
However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently cautioned that increased taxation on air travel threatens connectivity, distorts competition, and ultimately undermines social and economic development in the regions most reliant on aviation as a lifeline.
“What developing countries need is strong air connectivity supplied by an airline sector supported by governments to deliver sustainable growth,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.
“That means clear, consistent, globally agreed policies, not more taxes that will undermine connectivity. The airline industry is an economic catalyst, not a cash cow”, added Walsh.
Meanwhile, tourism provides perhaps the clearest example of aviation’s transformative power as each international flight generates economic activity across hotels, lodges, tour operators, transport providers and small businesses, including in rural and remote areas.
-ebrandt@nepc.com.na
