Air Namibia suspends flights to South Africa for 4 weeks
From November 16, and until December 13, Air Namibia flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town (via Walvis Bay) will be suspended.
The temporary suspension of its 2 routes to South Africa is the consequence of the dispatch for maintenance of 2 of its 4 Embraer ERJ-135, for a period of 4 weeks (from November 16), explains the company in a statement. The 2 remaining aircraft will serve its domestic routes (without any modification), relaunched on September 23.
Routes to the two South African cities had only just reopened. That to Johannesburg resumed on October 28 (3 flights per week), and that to Cape Town on November 3 (2 flights per week). Relaunched about two months after the Namibian skies reopened, so far these are its only operational international corridors. Prior to the suspension of operations on March 27, due to Covid-19, the carrier also served Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Germany.
Beyond this problem of availability of aircraft, Air Namibia is also in financial difficulty. To restore creditworthiness and implement a new profitable business model, the company needs N $ 8 billion (US $ 475 million). Since September, the salaries of some company employees have been cut in half. This is to reduce its operating costs and guarantee its survival.
The temporary suspension of its 2 routes to South Africa is the consequence of the dispatch for maintenance of 2 of its 4 Embraer ERJ-135, for a period of 4 weeks (from November 16), explains the company in a statement. The 2 remaining aircraft will serve its domestic routes (without any modification), relaunched on September 23.
Routes to the two South African cities had only just reopened. That to Johannesburg resumed on October 28 (3 flights per week), and that to Cape Town on November 3 (2 flights per week). Relaunched about two months after the Namibian skies reopened, so far these are its only operational international corridors. Prior to the suspension of operations on March 27, due to Covid-19, the carrier also served Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia and Germany.
Beyond this problem of availability of aircraft, Air Namibia is also in financial difficulty. To restore creditworthiness and implement a new profitable business model, the company needs N $ 8 billion (US $ 475 million). Since September, the salaries of some company employees have been cut in half. This is to reduce its operating costs and guarantee its survival.
Source: newsaero
