The South African Airways (SAA) has relaunched its Windhoek-Johannesburg route after a two-year hiatus, with its first flight having landed on Thursday at the Hosea Kutako International Airport.
The airline will service the route with two flights scheduled per day, seven days a week.
SAA suspended operations in Namibia in March 2020, as it faced financial difficulties which were exacerbated by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
SAA’s Chief Financial Officer Fikile Mhlontlo said the Namibia route resumption is part of the airline’s strategy to go into more routes that had been abandoned over time.
“This is phase two of our strategy as we keep expanding. We have enough support now to start SAA, otherwise, we would not have been here, you know every time we had financial difficulties our shareholders would always come to the party with financial support. What is important is that we continue operating and expanding, look at the equipment we have, it allows us to expand and cover other areas. We are cognizant of the past where we had a financial hiccup, a business can’t stand still,” he said in Windhoek on Thursday.
“We have instances when tourists want to visit our country, but they are told all flights are booked, thus with the resumption of SAA it will ease such inconveniences and push forward our tourism recovery.
“It is indeed a great milestone, as we are slowly observing the tourism industry peaking up, and also complements our tourism recovery plan,” Environment, Forestry and Tourism Deputy Minister Heather Sibungo said on the sidelines of the route relaunch.
Works and Transport Deputy Minister Veikko Nekundi said the relaunched route will bring the two countries much closer again with direct flights, and thus hope more routes such as the Cape Town-Windhoek one will also be added soon.
“I am confident this seamless connection by one of the best airlines in the world will strengthen trade and tourism between us and foster the existing ties on all fronts.
“Today’s (Thursday) launch also comes at an opportune time when fellow Namibians are preparing themselves to go on holidays, while some are on for business activities,” said Nekundi.
He also urged locals to take advantage of the opportunities and competition SAA brings to the route.
“We wish to see this new venture result in reduced fares as well as promote maximum customer care services that bring satisfaction and enhance air connectivity. Equally as we open doors for SAA to conduct business in Namibia, we implore you (South Africa) to also allow Namibians to operate and benefit economically, while also adding progressive competition. Let’s also enter the market, it’s not only about cultural and language integration that we commonly share, but revenue as well.”
SAA, which came out of business rescue in April 2021 and restarted commercial flights on a much smaller scale a year ago, has also added Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe to its growing route network.
The South African flag carrier went into business rescue in December 2019 when the Covid-19 lockdowns were imposed and the rescue practitioners could not get more funding from the government at that time, all flights were halted.
