The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) yesterday launched the Air Connect Namibia project in a bid to create new international routes at the country’s airports, ultimately increasing direct air access to the nation.
The project was derived from the Namibia Aviation and Connectivity Forum held in 2022.
During the launch in Windhoek, Bisey /Uirab, the chief executive of the NAC, said the project aims to boost tourism, trade, and foreign investment by increasing air access to Namibia from around the world, with an initial focus on Hosea Kutako International Airport.
“The Air Connect Namibia project aligns perfectly with the NAC’s mission to enhance connectivity to Namibia,” he said.
/Uirab said the move seeks to improve the country’s overall competitiveness by attracting foreign direct investment and stimulating economic growth.
“By establishing new international routes while retaining existing partnerships, Air Connect Namibia will create a stronger tourism and business environment for Namibia.”
The deputy executive director of works and transport, Cedric Limbo, at yesterday’s event said Namibia aims to become the number-one logistics hub in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He said flying in Africa is expensive and to achieve Nambia’s goal, the country needs to consider entering new markets.
“Through agreements Namibia wants to become a logistics harbour for SADC, and this will not happen by chance, only through other initiatives such as this,” Limbo said.
He said the project would fast-track this aim.
“Our aim as a government is to encourage stakeholders to unlock other markets and not only focus on traditional markets, like the British [market],” he said.
The Namibia Aviation and Connectivity Forum brought stakeholders together in 2022 to reimagine the aviation sector’s role in propelling national growth.
The forum identified air service development as a key topic for developing and reimagining the Namibian aviation sector.
“This was followed up by the NAC partaking in a European Carrier Tour, where carriers were engaged with at their operation headquarters.
“During Routes World 2022, data-led business cases were developed for engagement with carriers to service the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Qatar, Ethiopia and Turkey,” /Uirab said.
– email: shania@namibian.com.na; Twitter:@ShaniaLazarus
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