While the government of Namibia decided to end the woes of its national flag carrier, Air Namibia, after the airline failed to gather funds to prove its solvency, the High Court of Namibia upended the decision.
The Transportation Commission of Namibia decided to withdraw Air Namibia’s scheduled services license citing financial and security issues.
“Taking all the factors stated above into consideration and the requirements of the Air Services Act, namely that an operator must be financially able to provide a safe, satisfactory and reliable air service, the Commission has resolved to suspend Air Namibia’s Schedules Air Services Licence No 00012,” stated the chairperson of the Transportation Commission of Namibia Eldorette Harmse,
The airline’s license would have expired at 23:59 PM local time (UTC +2) on July 8, 2020. It would have been able to operate non-scheduled services, including charter or repatriation flights, as long as the State of Emergency is still valid in Namibia.
“Air Namibia will be afforded an opportunity until Wednesday, 22 July 2020 to provide the Commission with evidence of having obtained funding to meet the requirements of the Air Services Acts,” detailed Harmse.
The Windhoek, Namibia-based carrier needs about $469 million (NAD8 billion) to continue operations, but only received a tenth of that sum from the government, reported Reuters.
On the early-morning hours of July 9, 2020, the airline issued a public letter, addressed to the “flying public, the trade, and all stakeholders” that it will continue its services, as the decision to revoke its scheduled service license was upended by the High Court of Namibia.
“Air Namibia shall continue to fly all domestic flights as per published schedule.”
Air Namibia owns nine aircraft in its fleet, including two Airbus A330 wide-body aircraft.
