NTB backs national airline plan to close Namibia’s air access gap
The Namibia Tourism Board says the country faces a serious air connectivity deficit following the closure of Air Namibia and supports viable solutions, including reviving or restructuring a national airline or forging strong partnerships with international carriers. Cabinet has endorsed Namibia Air (Pty) Ltd as a planned state‑owned carrier and appointed a technical committee to guide the process, with NTB chief executive Sebulon Chicalu warning that international marketing efforts will not translate into full benefit without reliable air access.
Before its closure, Air Namibia carried an estimated 33% of all arrivals – more than any other carrier – highlighting the scale of disruption since its liquidation on 11 February 2021, when the airline employed over 600 staff and held liabilities of nearly N$5.4 billion against assets just over N$1 billion. The NTB says improved connectivity is critical to unlock tourism growth, noting that campaigns in the United States, Canada, India, China and Eastern Europe will fall short without sufficient capacity to meet renewed demand.
Source: The Namibian
