NAMIBIA. Windhoek: Over 600 workers will lose their jobs as Air Namibia will be suspending all flight operations from today. African airline, Air Namibia has suffered huge losses during its 75 years of its existence despite attempts by the government for a financial bailout. From 1999 to 2019 the government had provided over $477 million in financial bailouts to the airline. According to the reports, a $119 million bailout was rejected in 2019.
In June 2020, the country’s president Hage Geinborg called for the company’s shut down. He said it was milking the country’s resources.
The cessation of operations for the troubled flag-carrier comes eight months after the Namibian president, Hage Geingob, told the country’s parliament that the airline should be liquidated
A statement released by the airline on February 10 said that the government will offer compensation to all laid down staff. “Customers with advanced bookings should register their claims,” it further read.
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Air Namibia’s suspension a ‘Southern African misfortune’?
By February 11, all flights had been cancelled and all airlines returned to base. Air Namibia had 10 aircraft including AirbusA330s. It flew to South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Zambia as well as Germany.
Meanwhile, Namibia’s neighbor, South Africa has also got its airline South African Airways in financial turmoil. the airline is somehow surviving on bailouts and risking a shutdown.
Air Malawi which had flights to London in the 1980s shut down 8 years ago. It nows partners with Ethiopian Airways in a new company called Malawi Airlines.
