Maihapa Ndjavera
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) remains determined to champion the charge towards the transformation of the local aviation industry and position it as a driver for a thriving domestic economy.
The much-anticipated and first of its kind for Namibia, ‘Namibia Aviation and Connectivity Forum’, will take place from 16 to 18 November 2022 at the Safari Hotel in Windhoek, with various speakers confirmed.
NAC marketing officer Dan Kamati said at the commencement of the main event on 17 November 2022, each working group will present a summary of their key outcomes to the delegates. Their detailed working papers and reports will contribute to the ultimate white paper for the forum at the end of the main event.
Kamati added key areas for which working groups have been identified and constituted include: regulatory reforms, training and skills development, route development, regional and international connectivity, infrastructure investment, possibility for a future airline, cargo development, aviation’s place in oil discovery and green hydrogen advances, sustainability in the Namibian aviation sector, as well as enhancing the role of aviation as an enabler for tourism.
“The purpose of the forum is to create a platform where key industry players and stakeholders will share, tackle, rethink and put into motion ideas on the trajectory that the aviation industry and its related ecosystems will take over the next few years,” he stated.
It further seeks to cement the industry’s role as key to Namibia’s economic recovery and growth, as well as driving the revival of aviation and other ancillary industries, such as tourism, after the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the launch in August, NAC board chairperson Leake Hangala noted the liquidation of Air Namibia is one of the most devastating events that happened in the sector.
“Its demise has resulted in a number of our people losing jobs and the country losing its national flag carrier. Losing Air Namibia has also resulted in the loss of domestic competition.”
He called on the forum to look at how the industry can bring back a national airline, packaged in such a manner that it is financially viable, operationally efficient and one that will contribute to the domestic and regional competition, thereby providing consumers with a choice.