Elezo Libanda
Katima Mulilo, 30 August – Some Namibians have called for the establishment of a new national carrier to replace Air Namibia which was closed on 11 February 2021 due to crippling debt and years of financial dependence on the state.
At the time of its closure, the airline operated nine aircraft and employed close to 600 people.
Stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industry did not agree with the government’s stance on the liquidation of the national airline, as they felt the move would adversely affect the lucrative tourism sector, which is one of the biggest contributors to the country’s GDP.
At the time of shutting the airline, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism described the situation at Air Namibia as sad because the national carrier was a link and key player in the tourism industry.
A year and a half after the demise of Air Namibia, some people are still calling for the government to use available resources to bring tourists to Namibia, and that can only be achieved if the country has a national airliner, instead of depending on foreign airlines.
“One lesson we learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic is that most countries only made their resources available to benefit their citizens only. We still remember that the Zimbabwe national airline came to our aid to deliver COVID-19 vaccines from abroad.
“Even economically struggling counties have national airlines, so bringing back Air Namibia or establishing a new national airline will boost the economy of Namibia. While we know the national carrier was an expensive undertaking, the airline did much more for Namibia than just carrying passengers to and from Namibia,” a lodge owner situated on the banks of the Chobe river said.
Another businessman from the Zambezi told said the closure of Air Namibia was retrogressive if not catastrophic, the national airliner was affordable and convenient.
“I have businesses across the country and my travelling was made easy by the national airline, now it’s difficult as one has to drive between regions and life will never be the same,” businessman Mwilima Mwilima said.
