Air Namibia Ex-Staff Seek Supreme Court Ruling
Former employees of defunct Air Namibia have petitioned the Supreme Court of Namibia to expedite a hearing in their ongoing dispute with the airline’s joint liquidators over unpaid severance packages.
The group has asked the court either to set a hearing date for case SA 126/2024 or to dismiss an appeal lodged by the liquidators against an August 2025 High Court ruling. That ruling ordered the liquidators to recalculate the former employees’ severance entitlements and pay outstanding amounts dating back to December 2022.
The petition follows what the ex-employees describe as inconsistent treatment after the liquidators reportedly paid one former staff member in full, with interest, following his successful case at the Namibian Labour Court earlier this month. Renier Bougard, a former senior cabin controller representing the group, said the payment strengthens their position before the Supreme Court.
According to Bougard, Air Namibia employed 638 workers at the time of its liquidation. He argued that settling with a single employee after a lower court decision, while continuing to contest the broader High Court order, amounts to an admission of liability.
The dispute stems from Air Namibia’s liquidation in 2021, which resulted in the automatic dismissal of its workforce. A central point of contention has been whether employer contributions to pensions, social security, and medical aid should be included in severance calculations.
In August 2024, Bougard and 80 other former employees secured a High Court ruling that severance payments must be calculated based on the full cost to company, including salary, allowances, and employer contributions. The liquidators subsequently appealed the decision.
The former employees claim they are collectively owed approximately NAD105 million (USD6.5 million). Over the past year, they have staged protests in Windhoek, calling for resolution of the long-running dispute.
By petitioning the Supreme Court, the group hopes to accelerate the legal process and secure final clarity on their entitlements more than four years after the airline ceased operations.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com