Increased flight options pay offAir Namibia’s decision to increase flight frequencies and capacity on its local routes has had the desired effect, the airline says. As Air Namibia promotes air travel Air Namibia says its 20% reduction of local airfare at the beginning of September was part of its strategy to attract more local travellers and get Namibians to embrace air travel.Air Namibia spokesman Paul Nakawa says the national airline is committed to making air travel more affordable.
“Air transport is a modern way of travelling, as it is safe and faster, and improves the productivity of the nation.
A trip that takes you between nine and eleven hours on the road only takes 45 minutes by air. This means you reach your destination faster and fresher, which then helps you to be productive.”
He says Air Namibia regards the Harambee Prosperity Plan as a guiding tool for operations because it seeks to ensure that all Namibians have access to national infrastructure and facilities.
By reducing the cost of local flights, the airline is also reducing pressure on the roads, which are notorious for accidents that claim the lives of many Namibians and tourists.
Nakawa says the upgrading of airport around the country will mean increased flights and the ability to use bigger planes on local routes.
Meanwhile, Namibia Airports Company (NAC) spokesperson Dan Kamati says the NAC has improved several airports, including the Ondangwa Airport whose runway upgrade was completed in August, while the taxiway and apron are being upgraded now.
The NAC has also upgraded the Walvis Bay Airport runway and built passenger terminals at Ondangwa and Walvis Bay.
The NAC recently commissioned a new fire and rescue station at Windhoek’s Eros Airport to improve the capability of emergency services.
The runway of the Katima Mulilo Airport is also being upgraded.
“The critical role that airports play in national development cannot be over-emphasised,” says Kamati.
“These projects and others demonstrate our commitment to make Namibia an international air transportation hub.”
Kamati said these projects are in line with the fourth National Development Plan, which stressed the importance of infrastructure as the base of economic development.
With more frequent flights and affordable fares, Nakawa says Namibians are already showing more interest in boarding a plane than getting into a car.
“We have more new customers and passengers using our services. We are just encouraging them to book early as this will be even cheaper for them.
There is a phenomenal increase in the number of people flying locally now, compared to a few months ago.”
He said Air Namibia will start promoting the advantages of local flights.
On 22 August, Air Namibia announced that flight frequencies and capacity on some local routes would be increased.
These routes were Windhoek to Ondangwa, and the Windhoek-Rundu-Katima Mulilo route.