Namibia intends to improve air connections to and from the country. This came to light yesterday, when the Namibia Airport Company (NAC) unveiled an initiative named ‘Air Connect Namibia’.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) defines air connectivity as an indicator of a network’s concentration and its ability to move passengers from their origin to their destination seamlessly.
Air connectivity is key to unlocking a country’s economic growth potential, in part because it enables the country to attract business investment and human capital. An increase in air connectivity also spurs tourism, which is vital to many countries’ economic prosperity.
The project’s goal is to improve direct air access to and from Namibia, primarily through its international airports, with a concentration on Hosea Kutako International Airport.
“The project aims to improve the country’s competitiveness and support growth sectors, making it a stronger tourism and business location for foreign direct investment, stimulating economic growth and job creation. It aims to do this by increasing direct air access between the region and international markets through the establishment of new international routes at the airport,” reads the agreement.
To assure the project’s success, industry stakeholders including NAC, the City of Windhoek, Gondwana Collection, the Namibia Tourism Board, the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board inked an agreement at the same time.
The project grew out of the Namibia Aviation and Connectivity Forum, which took place in 2022. The forum aimed to reimagine the Namibian aviation sector as one that contributes to the country’s economic development and progress.
NAC CEO Bisey /Uirab said the agreement looks at continuous cooperation and collaboration between the parties as a necessity to maintain and develop a compatible and efficient air transport system and reciprocal destinations experience for the passengers, for both leisure and business.
“Stakeholders also agreed to target specific airlines to come to our country because our country offers great opportunities therefore,” noted the CEO. -mndjavera@nepc.com.na