Privately owned Namibian airline, FlyWestair, re-started direct flights from Windhoek to Cape Town on Friday, October 23. The twice-weekly flights...
Air Namibia will resume flights from Windhoek International to Johannesburg OR Tambo and Cape Town from October 28, 2020, using a 37-seater EMB-135ER.
The airline used to operate A319-100s to South Africa but has decided on the lower gauge aircraft due to depressed demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to spokesperson Twaku Kayofa. He said Air Namibia would increase capacity as demand grew during the upcoming high season summer holidays in the region.
The airline will operate a thrice-weekly non-stop flight (SW723) to Johannesburg and a twice-weekly service to Cape Town via Walvis Bay.
The airline has been operating three EMB-135s on domestic routes from Windhoek Eros to Walvis Bay, Ondangwa, Caprivi, and Rundu.
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Theo Mberirua, in a statement said the resumption of international routes was in line with the airline’s restart plan, following a seven-month-long break due to COVID-19. “Although the airline normally operates an extensive schedule that requires multiple destinations in order to feed the entire network, the move by Air Namibia to breathe new life into these two routes will provide smooth and convenient connections inbound and outbound, connecting Namibia to the world, and the world to Namibia,” he said.
Air Namibia joins private Namibian airline FlyWestair (WV, Windhoek Eros) and South Africa’s Airlink (South Africa) (4Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo), which last week both announced new services between Windhoek and Johannesburg. Both airlines also fly between Windhoek and Cape Town; while Airlink also serves Walvis Bay. South African low-cost carrier FlySafair (FA, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo) has also applied for traffic rights on the Johannesburg-Windhoek route.
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Airlink has officially changed its company name from “SA Airlink” to “Airlink”, as part of its strategy to distinguish itself as a totally independent airline.
Earlier this year Airlink ended its 23-year franchise agreement with South African Airways and began operating and issuing tickets on its own “4Z” code and designator. This has liberated Airlink and enabled it to forge commercial ties with other international airlines that carry passengers and cargo to and from destinations across Southern Africa. It has subsequently signed collaborative “interline” agreements with Qatar Airways, Emirates, British Airways, KLM, Air France and United.
In addition, Airlink flights are now sold on www.flyairlink.com and no longer via SAA’s website.
“The subtle, but significant, name change is a key element of our re-positioning, recovery and growth strategy,” said Airlink CEO and Managing Director, Rodger Foster. “It should be seen together with recent commercial developments, including the interline agreements, the launch of our own mainline South African domestic services and new regional routes linking Johannesburg with Maputo and Windhoek. Airlink plans to announce additional new and reinstated routes in the coming weeks and months,” he explained.
Airlink’s new Johannesburg-Cape Town and Johannesburg-Durban services, which are South Africa’s domestic trunk routes, enable Airlink passengers to connect with our other domestic, long-haul and regional flights on a single ticket.
Airlink’s modern training and maintenance facilities ensure the airline’s self-sufficiency for pilot and cabin crew training as well as for keeping its fleet safe and in prime working condition.
Airlink took advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns to focus on its business continuity and future position in what has become a completely changed market. “The measures we have taken have all been in the best interests of the company, its employees, customers, suppliers, and shareholders. Today Airlink is a financially sound and robust business,” said Mr Foster.
The most visible change will be the introduction of a new corporate livery and branding, which will soon be revealed.
“In the meantime, we continue to remain focussed on the job at hand, operating our schedule and keeping our customers happy by flying them to their destinations safely, on time and affordably,” said Mr Foster.