Allexer Namundjembo
Wilderness Air Namibia (Pty) Ltd has applied to amend and renew its non-scheduled air services licence, according to a notice published in the latest government gazette.
Wilderness’ application includes updates to its aircraft fleet, tariff rates and services offered under its current licence, which was first issued in 1997 under the Air Services Act of 1949.
Wilderness Air Namibia is requesting that its licence reflect its current fleet of five Cessna 210 aircraft and four Cessna 208 aircraft. The company proposes new tariffs of N$13 413.60 per hour for the Cessna 210 and N$27 615.44 per hour for the Cessna 208. The frequency and timetable of operations will remain unchanged.
In the gazette, the company explained that it is part of the Wilderness Safari Group, which operates lodges in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi, hosting more than 50 000 tourists each year, most of them from abroad.
“Since the grant of the licence in 1997, our activity has marketed the idea of visiting more than one lodge by air transfer on a single visit to Namibia and we have experienced exponential growth in demand,” the company stated.
The application stated that due to current economic conditions, operating parts of the previous fleet is no longer viable, leading to the discontinuation of certain aircraft under its non-scheduled licence.
The company said the amendment and renewal aim to align its licence with the aircraft it currently operates.
Wilderness Air Namibia has played a key role in the country’s tourism sector by offering air transfers that link remote lodges and attractions.
Its services connect destinations such as Etosha National Park, the Skeleton Coast, and lodges in the Zambezi region, supporting both domestic and regional tourism.
Interested parties may submit written representations to the secretary of the Transport Commission of Namibia within 21 days of the Gazette’s publication.
