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Air Namibia flights

Air Namibia is based in Windhoek, Namibia (a neighbouring country of South Africa) and is the national carrier of Namibia. You can catch an Air Namibia flight from Windhoek to Europe (Frankfurt), South Africa (Cape Town and Johannesburg), Angola (Luanda) and many destinations within Namibia. Air Namibia is a full service carrier, offering free food and drinks on flights.

Air Namibia flight routes

• 26 June 2013: Air Namibia increases its Windhoek - Frankfurt flights from 4 per week to daily. From 1 Dec 2013 to June 2014 it'll be reduced to 6 per week (Tuesday flights removed).

• 1 June 2013: Windhoek to Gaborone flights are cancelled.

• 1 May 2013: Air Namibia launches flights from Harare to Lusaka.

• 11 April 2013: Air Namibia cancels its Windhoek to Accra flight service (it had 3 weekly flights on Airbus A319).

• 1 April 2013: Air Namibia appoints APG as its GSP in the UK, US & France.

• 8 March 2013: "Air Namibia, through the business plan, is addressing one of the major problems it has been experiencing, which is stagnation for a very long time with the airline only offering flights to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Frankfurt and Luanda. If over the last 10 years the airline introduced at least two new routes per year, it would have grown to a size which would have met the required economies of scale by now. While there was natural traffic between Namibia and Ghana as an example, we needed to develop the market and the route. Today we have a lot of Ghanaians coming to Namibia for shopping and holiday, local businesses are now also benefiting. Given a chance this trend will continue to grow. The airline, and Namibia in general, needs to diversify its source markets for tourism and for trade – it cannot depend on tourism or trade from South Africa and Europe only." says Paulus Nakawa, Air Namibia's manager for corporate communications.

• 27 January 2013: Windhoek to Cape Town, and Windhoek to Johannesburg flights are to be reduced from 3 to 2 a day. "This is just a temporary measure in response to the current air traffic trends and demands. The season that has started is a low season in the industry. In the airline industry, we monitor the trends, and we are responsive to the demands of the market at any given time, bearing in mind the dynamics and economics of the industry we are in." Paul Nakawa, spokesman for Air Namibia

• 27 January 2013. Windhoek to Frankfurt flights are reduced to 4 a week. “As per industry practice, the airline is obliged to execute heavy maintenance work on these aircraft to meet the ‘return conditions’ of the aircraft lease agreements. As a result of this, the aircraft will be withdrawn from the route one at a time to undergo the planned maintenance, he said. “Then there will be only one aircraft to service the route; hence the flight schedule was reduced. The retiring A340-300 will be replaced by a brand new state-of-the art Airbus A330-200 which is expected to enter our fleet from October 2013 in line with the national carrier’s fleet renewal programme.” said Air Namibia's spokesman, Mr Paul Nakawa

Air Namibia flights from Windhoek

Windhoek flights are from the Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport and the Windhoek Eros Airport.

Air Namibia flights from Johannesburg

Air Namibia flights from Cape Town

Air Namibia's fleet

Air Namibia flights are operated on three Airbus A319-100s, two Airbus A340-300s (used for flights from Frankfurt to Windhoek), two Boeing 737-500s and four Embraer ERJ-135 jets.

• 8 March 2013. Air Namibia's 2nd brand new Airbus A319-100 arrives in Windhoek.

• 4 January 2013. "What we saw now is the arrival of the first of the 2 Airbuses A319s purchased for Air Namibia in the form of government capital injections into the airline. It is part of our strategy to make sure that we operate modern state of the art cost effective aeroplanes which offer a high level of passenger comfort. The cabin noise levels are very low. The aeroplanes have a high dispatch record. So, we are excited. And this is part of our future. The future of Air Namibia is going to be based on the A319 fleet. Previously, the subsidy Air Namibia was receiving from the shareholder was in the form of cash grants which was used to pay for operating costs like aircraft leases and fuel. This time round what the government has done is they've purchased and invested in equipment which Air Namibia will use going into the future. So for a change we now have a national asset in the form of 2 owned aeroplanes which the Namibian population, the public and taxpayer, must be proud of. The aircraft selection included looking at current requirements in terms of the routes we operate to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Luanda and Accra. So this fleet will be used in our growth plans looking at cities which are within 6 hours of Windhoek, looking at opportunities in central Africa, east Africa and other west African cities. At Air Namibia all of us, the board, management and all employees have a huge responsibility on our shoulders - we need to care and look after these aeroplanes, we need to make sure they are maintained to the highest required levels and also to use them for the purpose for which they were designed for, so that the nation can get the maximum benefit out of these aeroplanes. They are not going to be parked here at the airport, and it's not just money being flushed away, so we have a huge responsibility, and we owe it to the nation and taxpayers to make sure that we do not dissapoint them. Air Namibia is a relatively small airline, we have 10 planes in our fleet at the moment. We have 2 Airbus A340-300s which we use primarily for our European flights. For the domestic and regional routes we have 4 Embraer ERJ135s, and then for our regional routes, including the planes which came today, we have 3 Airbus A319s and one Boeing 737-500 which will be replaced by the second arrival of the A319".

• December 2012. Two Airbus A319 planes are purchased. The first 112-seater is expected to arrive in December 2012, and be used for flights to Accra, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Luanda.

• June 2012. It is reported that Air Namibia will be removing the 2 Airbus A340-300's, it uses for international flights, from its fleet; and replacing them with A330's: "We want to benchmark with the best airlines in the world such as Emirates Airline. We want to grow our airline, not only to extend international routes, but also to generate revenue."

• January 2012. Air Namibia announced an upgrade to their Regional fleet by adding two New Generation Airbus A319-100 aircraft. The A319-100 is a two class configuration, with 16 Business Class and 96 Economy class seats.  The seat width has a 54 inch pitch in Business Class and 32 inch pitch in Economy Class.  The aircrafts will service the Windhoek, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Luanda andAccra routes.  

Reviews

• Kirsty was lucky enough to get upgraded to business class on Air Namibia: "What a fabulous way to start the trip! We were served juice, warm facecloths and newspapers while waiting for all the other passengers to find their seats, and breakfast was served with proper cutlery and crockery. With so much space there was no bumping elbows with your neighbour while trying to eat. Definitely the only way I want to fly from now on. On arrival into Windhoek, immigration was quick and easy."

Contact details for reservations in South Africa

Phone 0860 109 716 or email reservations@airnamibia.za.com

News & History

Founded in 1946 as South West Air Transport (Namibia was previously known as South-West Africa), the first Air Namibia flight was flown in 1948. In 1959, with the merger of "Oryx Aviation" and "South West Air Transport", the merged entity was named "Suidwes Lugdiens". In 1966 Walvis Bay's Namib Air became a wholly owned subsidiary of Suidwes Lugdiens. In 1978 Suidwes Lugdiens was renamed Namib Air. In 1990 a twice-weekly flight service between Windhoek and Frankfurt was started. After the independence of Namibia from South Africa, Namib Air was renamed Air Namibia in October 1991. In 1992 Air Namibia flights between London and Windhoek commenced. In 1994 Air Namibia flights between Frankfurt and Windhoek and flights between London and Windhoek were increased to three weekly. In 1999 Air Namibia flights to Europe (Frankfurt and London) were serviced using a Boeing 747-400. In August 2001 flights between Frankfurt and Windhoek were increased to four weekly. From the 31st August 2004, Air Namibia flights between Windhoek and Frankfurt were flown using a McDonnell Douglas MD11. In 2005 Air Namibia commenced flights between London Gatwick and Windhoek. In September 2006 the McDonnell Douglas MD11 was replaced by an Airbus A340-300. From the 27th November 2006, a third weekly Air Namibia flight between Windhoek and Luanda commenced.

• 6 Mar 2013. Namibia's Medium Term Expenditure Framework: "Air Namibia: With a targeted funding formula, the airline will use the proceeds of government grants as intended; the company business plan should support a funding formula that can be reduced year-over-year and then to zero dollars within the next several years. Grant funding should therefore provide a sufficient base to enable the company to eventually become self-sufficient (N$ 500 742; N$ 164 806; N$ 101 605). Air Namibia contribution to Namibia economy interim of GDP was estimated to the value of N$2.1 billion during the current year, and thirteen thousand jobs were supported with two thousand new jobs created by Air Namibia."

• 1 Mar 2013. Air Namibia fuel surcharges change to:

R1078: CPT - Accra
R544: CPT - Windhoek
R713: JNB - Accra
R1426: JNB - Frankfurt
R802: JNB - Harare
R695: JNB - Walvis Bay
R624: JNB - Windhoek
R535: Walvis Bay - Cape Town

• 17 January 2013. Paul Nakawa from Air Namibia responds to allegations that some cabin crew have not received their travel allowances & subsistence over the last month: "Air Namibia is a company which is governed by integrity, and we have got an open door policy. Our cabin crew are aware of channels of communication. I was actually shocked when I received this media enquiry yesterday, and of course I am a member of the Exco of Air Namibia. So if the cabin crew had really now the problem together and they had communicated according to the procedures and policies in place we could have picked it up in the Exco so that the Exco could pronounce itself on the matter. It's a pity that they're resorting now to media, and we cannot run Air Namibia through the media. It's very very unfortunate, that which they have alleged in the newspaper is unfounded, and you know my so being the members of management, I really feel it's high time that we call a spade a spade. Cabin crew wouldn't be cabin crew for the rest of their lives - I would like them to have the understanding of having their career path in mind, career growth, to grow from level A to level B to level C, etcetera, and concentrate rather on things that are building their career and taking Air Namibia somewhere. They are part of us, they are our great assets, and we really applaud them for all that they do for our passengers on behalf of Air Namibia. But it's a pity that ok now the unprofessional way that they have conducted themselves to resort to a third party rather than tackling the issues with people that can provide solutions. So, but yes, it's unfounded and yes we are busy investigating whether there is truth in what they are saying. But I can comfortably say that it's a petty issue that was supposed to be solved internally. Being a cabin crew doesn't mean that you can get SAT whether you are flying or not. Some of those who flew got the SAT. There are more than 120 (cabin crew). Now if you are talking about 2 cabin crew that doesn't give the overall picture of how it is at Air Namibia. So I am questioning their credibility and also their decision they took to resort to the media. They are only 2 among so many cabin crew that are in the employment of Air Namibia. So that is why I'm saying that whatever they are saying is unfounded and we are distancing ourselves from it."

• 16 January 2013. Air Namibia spokesman, Paul Nakawa, on their fuel issues: "The information I would like to share with you is already in the public domain. Although we normally don't discuss our business undertakings with our supplier, with third parties, I would like to provide clarity and information. We have to pay Engen some bills, and the management is trying every best possible in order to make sure that this bill for Engen is paid. This has really impacted our operations negatively, so to say, and of course our passengers have already booked with Air Namibia. Especially those who have to fly to Frankfurt on the SW285 - we make a contingency plan because we do not want to have our passengers stranded. To go back to them and tell them sorry, we have to cancel flights because of this problem - it's not their problem. But of course we are doing something about it. The contingency plan that we are doing a stopover in Angola is just temporary and it can even happen today or tomorrow that we normalise these flights again whereby they have just to take off from Hosea Kotako Airport direct to Frankfurt. But yes, both of the representatives of these 2 companies, be it Air Namibia and Engen, they are meeting each and every time in order to find a lasting solution to these challenges that we have. In fact it happened towards the end of December. And of course we do not have cash in order to be able to pay the bill. However, we are trying everything possible to make sure it's settled. So the stumbling block is just actually the payment. When it's extended to them the operation will normalise again. And that I cannot predict when, it can happen today, it can happen tomorrow. The challenge that we are in now because of the cashflow is not only unique to Air Namibia. In any business industry you have got your shortcomings etc... And then being in this serious business which is very cost intensive of course anybody outside there could not be able to understand the complexity of the industry. But I can really assure you that yes of course the solution will be found and we'll come back to normal again."

In-flight Magazine

Air Namibia's in-flight magazine is called Flamingo:

• March 2013: Air Namibia looks at islands off Africa - there are the Penguin Islands stretching from off the coast of the border with South Africa to Walvis Bay, and Marion & Prince Edward islands off South Africa, and Juan de Nova & Ile de l'Europa between Madagascar & Mozambique.

• February 2013: Air Namibia's fleet is showcased, the Namib desert and Windhoek's National Botanical Garden.

• January 2013: Namibia's Giraffe's, Air Namibia to Victoria Falls.

• December 2012: Air Namibia Windhoek to Luanda flights, "An additional second frequency to Ondangwa on Saturdays has been added to the domestic flights. We have also added additional direct flights to our regional routes from Windhoek to Harare, Zimbabwe and Gaborone, Botswana; as well as a sixth frequency to Luanda. On
  the international schedule we still maintain our daily flight to Frankfurt." MD of Air Namibia, Theo Namases

• November 2012: Air Namibia November 2012 in-flight magazine- Namibia's elephants & shy desert flowers.

• October 2012: Namibia's zebra, hop on an Air Namibia flight with children.

Ownership of Air Namibia

In 1982 South West Africa/Namibia's government obtained a majority shareholding in Air Namibia (then Namib Air) and made it the national carrier in 1987.

How to book Air Namibia flights

Book flights at Air Namibia.

Loyalty program

Reward$ is Air Namibia's loyalty programme, whereby you earn miles by flying with the airline. The miles can be used to purchase flights, for upgrades to business class or premium economy class, or to pay for additional luggage. It's free to join, and miles are transferrable between Reward$ members.

The Reward$ program also has a Corporate Client component whereby companies can accummulate loyalty miles.

Jobs at Air Namibia

Contact Air Namibia at employ@airnamibia.com.na, to find out about jobs.