More airlines eye Namibian route

THE Namibia Airports company yesterday said more airlines have applied to fly into Namibia as part of the Bilateral Air Services Agreements.

Addressing a media conference in Windhoek, the airports company’s chief executive officer Tamer El-Kallawi said among those whose applications are being considered are the Turkish, Kenyan and Emirates airlines.

Namibia has already permitted Qatar, KLM Royal Dutch, Ethiopian and Condor airlines to fly into the country, although Air Namibia has expressed concern.

Qatar will start flying from Doha to Windhoek with four weekly direct flights from 28 September 2016, while KLM will start flying from Amsterdam to Luanda, then to Windhoek, three times a week from 30 October.

Ethiopian Airlines will link Windhoek-Gaborone-Durban three times per week from 4 October this year.

El-Kallawi said Ethiopian Airlines has been applying to fly into Namibia since 2007.

The newly appointed board chairperson, Rodgers Kauta, said at the media briefing that the airports company does not grant permission to any airline which wants to fly into Namibia, but it was part of government-to-government agreements.

“The arrival of the new airlines is made possible by the international cooperation efforts of our government, which signed and effectively implemented Bilateral Air Services Agreements with the respective countries of the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Ethiopia,” he explained.

Kauta insisted that the launch of air services between countries starts with the respective governments signing those bilateral agreements, and then each country designates an airline to benefit from the agreement and to provide air services between the two countries.

He also said that having world-class brands at Namibian airports such as these airlines is an endorsement of the good operating environment that Namibia has created to attract investments.

“These new airlines connect to world-class transit airports such as Doha, Amsterdam and Addis Ababa, and this will complement the offerings of our national air carrier, Air Namibia,” he explained.

Kauta further stated that they will encourage and support the government’s efforts for new routes to deliver on Namibian aspirations to position the country as a logistics hub as part of the Harambee Prosperity Plan.

“As NAC, we stand to play our role of airport services provider and state vehicle for the implementation of the above national policies,” he noted.

NAC, air transport stakeholders and the travelling public stand to benefit from the introduction of the new airlines and destinations.

A rate schedule provided by El-Kallawi shows that the airports company charges an hourly rate of N$8 962 for after-hours operations, while for each international passenger, airlines pay the airports company N$376.

Landing fees for international airlines is N$676, and a further N$58 for every additional 1 000kg.

Kauta said “additional tourist flows would be generated from the new destinations and the connections these airlines offer, allowing Namibia to expand its tourism base beyond its traditional markets”.

Since the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where these new airlines will be operating from, has exceeded its capacity, the importance of upgrading the airport is high.

“It is worthwhile to note that these major world-class airlines decided to come to Namibia with our current infrastructure. Imagine the possibilities if we are to upgrade this airport,” he added.

Kauta was one of the board members who were announced. Others are Ipupa Kasheeta, Rudolph Rittman, Beverly Gaomas-Vugs and Lesenda Mohamed.

Meanwhile, Air Namibia said the number of international airlines granted permission to fly into the country saturates the market, and that they do not add any value.

“What we see happening now is that foreign airlines have spotted a developed market, and they are attracted to it,” said spokesperson Paulus Nakawa, adding that Air Namibia spent a lot of money developing and promoting the country as a tourist destination.