According to Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi, Namibia is proceeding with preparations to establish a new national airline but will not bring back the defunct Air Namibia (Windhoek International) brand. Nekundi stated that the process is well advanced and that a more precise timeframe might be revealed within the next month or two, even though no launch date has been declared.
He stated that the goal is to create a sustainable airline from the ground up in an interview with Namibia’s media house. “Air Namibia is not being revived. We are bringing a national airline back to life. “We will examine the appropriate name once we reach the right moment,” he stated.
Following three decades of state bailouts that cost the country NAD8 billion Namibian dollars (USD453 million), the former flag carrier, Air Namibia, was voluntarily liquidated under the previous administration in March 2021. Nekundi stated that “a lack of accountability” and “serious mismanagement” were major contributors to its demise.
Despite the history, he said he is confident a new airline could be successful with the right supervision. “If we make decisions that are in the best interest of the company, the taxpayer and Namibia, the airline will flourish,” he stated.
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the president of Namibia, has vowed to fully back the proposal, as was previously reported. With funds overseen by the ministry under Nekundi, he has set aside NAD20 million (USD1.13 million) for a feasibility study into a national carrier.
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