Chamwe Kaira
The government is moving ahead with plans to launch a new national airline, Namibia Air, before the end of 2026, as concerns grow over transparency and oversight.
Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus said the process is underway and the airline will not be a revival of Air Namibia but a new entity.
She said a technical team is reviewing different operating models, including possible partnerships with international airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines.
The team will submit its findings to the line minister before Cabinet makes a final decision. No exact launch date has been set.
Independent Patriots Change (IPC) shadow minister of works and transport Nelson Kalangula criticised the process, saying it lacks transparency and public involvement.
He said key details remain unclear to Parliament and the public. He questioned why local aviation experts have not been fully included, warning that excluding them weakens the project.
Kalangula also raised concerns about costs. He said Parliament has not received details of the reported N$20 million feasibility study or any agreements with partners. He said the matter has been treated as sensitive, limiting oversight.
He said issues linked to the collapse of Air Namibia have not been addressed. He called for a presidential commission of inquiry before starting a new airline.
Kalangula said moving ahead without resolving past problems risks repeating the same mistakes.
He also questioned the pace of the process, saying little information has been shared despite the planned 2026 launch. He said references to possible public-private partnerships without details increase uncertainty.
“As IPC, we support projects that are carefully thought through and transparent,” he said.
He said public input, especially from aviation professionals, is important.
“An establishment of a new airline without including Namibian experts cannot be a national pride but rather a selective pride,” Kalangula said.
Former employees of Air Namibia have welcomed the plan.
The group’s spokesperson Renier Bougard said a new airline would create jobs and support tourism.
He argued that restructuring could have prevented the closure of Air Namibia, which he deemed a mistake.
Bougard stated that former employees back the new airline and anticipate prioritised hiring.
He said the aviation sector requires skilled workers and that former employees have the experience needed to help build the airline.
