Namibia’s New Transport Minister Backs Air Namibia Revival
Namibia’s new transport minister, Veikko Nekundi, has announced that reviving Air Namibia is a top priority, alongside plans to upgrade the country’s road and rail infrastructure. In an interview with the New Era newspaper, Nekundi emphasized the need to restore the national airline and rehabilitate airport facilities.
“We must revive Air Namibia. Consultations will soon begin on rehabilitating our airports and bringing our national airline back to life,” Nekundi stated.
The initiative aligns with the South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO) election manifesto implementation plan, which the cabinet approved for government adoption in February. Full implementation is scheduled to begin on April 1, 2025.
The revival strategy focuses on avoiding the financial missteps that led to the airline’s collapse. Air Namibia was voluntarily liquidated in March 2021 after years of losses and mismanagement. The government had injected over NAD9 billion (USD495 million) into the carrier over the previous decade in an effort to keep it afloat.
Finance Minister Erica Shafudah has also expressed support for bringing the airline back. The proposed revival is part of a broader national development strategy, though it remains controversial. Critics, including political opposition parties, argue that Namibia, with a population of just 2.9 million, cannot afford to fund a national airline. They contend that public funds would be better directed toward urgent socioeconomic needs.
Despite the debate, the government maintains that a strong national carrier could support tourism, economic growth, and regional connectivity for Namibia.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com