Sostenus Wilherm
Namibia’s planned national airline, Namibia Air, could see Ethiopian Airlines take control of its top management and key operations, after the Ethiopian carrier indicated that management control would be a condition for any future equity partnership with the proposed airline.
The revelation has raised fresh concerns over Namibia’s aviation sovereignty, the role of local aviation professionals and the financial viability of the carrier, which the government hopes to launch in December 2026.
The concerns follow an internal ministry of works and transport briefing report seen by the Windhoek Observer on engagements held in Addis Ababa on August 21 and 22 between a Namibian delegation and Ethiopian Airlines.
The meetings were aimed at exploring possible cooperation between Namibia and Ethiopian Airlines in establishing the new national carrier.
According to the internal memorandum sent to line minister Veikko Nekundi by executive director Jonas Sheelongo, Ethiopian Airlines reviewed Namibia’s market study and presented a counter-proposal centred on ATR 72-600 aircraft, technical assistance, training and maintenance support.
“Ethiopian reviewed Namibia’s market study and tabled a counter proposal centered on ATR 72–600 aircraft, training and MRO support, but projected five years of losses as per attached financial projections,” the briefing report states.
The engagements resulted in an agreement to explore technical cooperation and a possible management contract, with Ethiopian Airlines indicating that it could immediately deploy personnel to assist with the refinement of Namibia Air’s business plan and the establishment of the airline.
“The parties agreed to explore cooperation under a management contract with Ethiopian. Ethiopian indicated it could immediately assign personnel to assist in refining the Namibia Air business plan and setting up the airline.”
Ethiopian Airlines also committed to providing technical assistance even if the proposed management agreement is not concluded, suggesting that cooperation could begin while discussions on the broader partnership continue.
The proposed technical cooperation extends to aircraft sourcing, maintenance and the preparation of certification documentation for the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority.
The parties also agreed to jointly assess aircraft requirements, with Ethiopian Airlines offering to use its relationships with aircraft lessors and owners to assist Namibia in sourcing aircraft.
“The parties agreed on joint assessment of aircraft, maintenance, and Ethiopian [Airlines] expressed willingness to assist with aircraft sourcing based on their relationship with aircraft lessors and owners in the aircraft market,” the briefing report states.
Potential areas of assistance identified in the report include training, maintenance, repair and overhaul, operational manuals and access to Ethiopian Airlines finance and information technology systems, as well as potentially favourable aircraft leasing arrangements.
Despite the progress on technical cooperation, Ethiopian Airlines has stopped short of committing to an equity partnership in Namibia Air.
“Ethiopian is not ready to commit to equity partnership at this stage. They indicated that they have three partnerships on the continent and require more time for an informed decision on investing as an equity partner in Namibia Air.”
However, the report indicates that an equity partnership would come with significant conditions. Ethiopian Airlines reportedly wants the business plan to demonstrate commercial feasibility and has indicated that management control would be required as part of any equity arrangement.
“For equity partnership, Ethiopian [Airlines] stated the business plan must be commercially feasible, and it would require management control including CEO, CFO and maintenance positions,” the document reads.
This requirement has become one of the most contentious aspects of the proposed cooperation, with the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) warning that Namibia could end up surrendering control of key functions within its national airline.
In a statement issued on Monday, IPC shadow minister of works and transport Nelson Kalangula described the developments as a direct disregard of Namibian aviation expertise and national sovereignty.
Kalangula argued that Namibia has a pool of qualified aviation professionals capable of running the new carrier, including former Air Namibia personnel, pilots, corporate finance experts, operations managers and aircraft engineers.
“To sign over these top executive posts to a foreign carrier signals a complete lack of faith in our own citizens,” Kalangula said.
He questioned how such an arrangement would benefit Namibian aviation professionals or contribute to building domestic capacity, arguing that qualified Namibians should be directly involved in the design, governance and management of Namibia Air.
Ethiopian Airlines recommended removing the Windhoek-Johannesburg, Windhoek-Cape Town and Windhoek-Luanda routes from the initial network.
Namibia, however, maintained that these routes were important to the success of its business plan.
Kalangula has strongly objected to the proposed removal of the routes, describing Johannesburg, Cape Town and Luanda as strategic regional connections that should remain central to Namibia Air.
Kalangula has also questioned the value of Namibia’s feasibility and market study, which it says allegedly cost approximately N$20 million.
He wants the government to account for the expenditure and explain why recommendations from Namibia’s own study could potentially be displaced by a counter-proposal from Ethiopian Airlines.
“If the ministry is prepared to accept a counter-proposal that dismantles our strategic routes, forces an unsuitable fleet model, projects five years of losses and surrenders full operational control to Ethiopian Airlines, what was the purpose and cost of conducting a Namibian feasibility study in the first place?” Kalangula asked.
Kalangula has called on Nekundi to formally involve Namibian aviation experts in the development of the airline.
He called on a formal advisory structure comprising veteran Namibian aviation professionals, former Air Namibia executives and domestic technical experts.
The shadow minister also demanded greater transparency regarding the feasibility study, including disclosure of its full financial cost and an explanation of why the government may depart from its recommendations.
Kalangula further warned that the December 2026 launch target should not pressure the government into accepting an arrangement that could compromise Namibia’s long-term aviation interests.
