Air Namibia – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

14 Aug

Travel ban hits Air Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Covid-19

Andrew Kathindi The grounding of Air Namibia flights amid the recently imposed national travel ban is set to hit the national carrier’s falling revenues, thus impact its turnaround strategy. Domestic travel was reintroduced in the country on 4 May following the initial State of Emergency proclamation by President Hage Geingob. Earlier this week however, following fears of rising cases of COVID-19, the President declared domestic travel restrictions. “As Air Namibia is involved in the business of transporting passengers and cargo, the temporary suspension of all domestic flights has a detrimental effect on the airline’s already difficult cash flow position, considering…

17 Jul

I still support Air Namibia

ObserverUncategorisedAir Namibia

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I won’t apologize for my years of support for Air Namibia. My long background in the tourism industry has always made me see the national airline’s true value. This national debate about the airline’s future needs to hear from different points of view. I have said for many years to those screaming for the closure of the airline, that there is no money savings in the short and medium term in precipitously closing down Air Namibia. The leases and outstanding bills for the airline are government guaranteed. They have to be paid by the Namibian tax payer…

09 Jul

Air Namibia threatens court action over licence

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Transportation Commission of Namibia (TCN)

Staff Writer Air Namibia is threatening to approach to the High Court for an urgent interdict if the Transportation Commission of Namibia (TCN) does not withdraw its decision to suspend the airline’s Scheduled Air Services Licence and afford it reasonable time to respond to its concerns over its operations. The move by the national carrier comes after the TCN in a surprise moved on Monday resolved to suspend Air Namibia's Schedules Air Services Licence No 00012 with effect from 23h59 today, Wednesday, 8 July 2020. In letter written to TCN by Air Namibia's acting Managing Director, Elia Erastus, and seen…

11 Jun

Grandstanding Geingob sinks Air Namibia

ObserverNational NewsAir Namibia, president Hage Geingob

President Hage Geingob stood up in the Parliament and dropped an attention-grabbing bomb. He stated that Air Namibia would be liquidated. Statesmanship and studied leadership was not his goal with that precipitous statement. Self-aggrandisement was. Our esteemed president holds an earned PhD and has 60 years of world experience and exposure to the way things work. He makes statements not from ignorance but with calculation. It is the self-serving side of his personality that is a fatal flaw in his otherwise reasonable leadership persona. When asked in that same parliamentary session about Fishrot, Geingob was demure and coquettish. He said…

09 Jun

Creditor fears ground Air Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, president Hage Geingob

Staff Writer Air Namibia has ceased all its international repatriation missions amid fears its aircrafts could be attached by creditors following President Hage Geingob’s announcement that he wants to liquidate the airline. According to insiders, the airline’s board is said to have met over the weekend where it was agreed that it would avoid international flights amid concerns that its creditors could attempt to attach its aircrafts as part of efforts to recover funds owed, following the President’s announcement on Thursday during his State of the Nation Address. "Air Namibia must be liquidated; we have a serious problem with Air…

29 Apr

Air Namibia to reassess COVID-19 impact

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Covid-19

Andrew Kathindi Air Namibia Acting MD Elia Erastus said the airline will review the full impact of COVID-19 on its operations after 36 months even though they’ve managed to fully retain staff and pay salaries during the lockdown. Erastus revealed that Air Namibia has had zero revenue generation in the last month. He was hopeful the relaxation of lockdown regulations would allow the airline to focus on internal flights and generate some revenue. Erastus said the national airline will focus on regional flights to curb competition. He points out that the negative ripple effect of COVID-19 on airline operations is…

22 Apr

Govt ponders Air Namibia, NWR, NAC bailout

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Covid-19, Government, Namibia Airports Company, Namibia Wildlife Resorts

Staff Writer Government, through the Ministry of Finance is considering a proposal from the Ministry of Public Enterprises to come to the aid of three parastatals which have had their operations severely affected by the global coronavirus outbreak. The three, Air Namibia, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) and Namibia Airports Company (NAC), are said to be in need of funding to meet their monthly wage bills, amounts expected to run into millions. This comes as Air Namibia is currently not generating any income after grounding its fleet, while NAC which generates revenues by managing the country’s airports has been forced to…