Last night African airline Air Namibia revealed that it would be suspending operations effective today. While any aircraft will be returned to the airline’s base, no passenger flights will now operate. The airline posted the announcement to its Twitter feed.
2020 saw its fair share of airline bankruptcies. This was helped in part by the current situation affecting the entire aviation industry. However, Some airlines were already on their way out. However, government support went a long way for many. At the end of 2020, 34 airlines had folded. We’re already begun to see the first casualties of 2020.
Farewell Air Namibia
Today Air Namibia suspended operations. The airline revealed that all flights would be canceled with aircraft returning to their bases. According to aeroTELEGRAPH, the airline has been placed into liquidation by the government, its sole shareholder. According to the publication, the country’s Minister of State Enterprises said that the airline’s assets must be protected.
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Air Namibia had some 600 employees, all without a job to go to. All employees are reportedly set to receive 12 months of pay as part of a severance package. The airline’s phone lines went without an answer this morning. However, the airline did say that passengers with bookings on the airline should contact them for a refund.
A fairly small fleet
Air Namibia had a reasonably small fleet comprising of nine aircraft, according to Planespotters.net. The fleet is as follows,
- 3x Airbus A319 – Average age of 9.7 years
- 2x Airbus A330 – Average age of 7.4 years
- 4x Embraer ERJ-135 – Average age of 20.7 years
According to data from RadarBox.com, most of the airline’s aircraft have been grounded for much of the past year. Three of its E145s were operational when the airline collapsed, with the remainder of the fleet firmly grounded. While focusing on somewhat regional flights, the airline’s Airbus A330s used to regularly fly to Frankfurt before a host of travel bans were enforced.
A brief history of Air Namibia
At the time of ceasing operations, Air Namibia was 74 years old. It can trace its origins back to a company called South West Air Transport in November 1946. Operations were established in 1949 between Windhoek and Grootfontein using a Ryan Navion (essentially a four-seater bubble with wings).
One decade later, the aircraft had a few more Ryan Navions and a DeHavilland Dragon Rapide. In March 1959, it merged with Oryx Aviation. The airline began jet operations in 1989, leasing a Boeing 737-200 from SAA. It then became known as Air Namibia in 1991. The airline was even operating Boeing 747s leased from South Africa Airways while owning its own 747 Combi.
Did you ever fly with Air Namibia? What did you think of the airline? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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