FlyNamibia and its affiliate, Westair Aviation, have raised objections to the awarding of a scheduled air transport service licence to FlyEtosha, fronted by William Aupapa Ekandjo.
The objection is based on the grounds of lack of financial resources, aircraft, maintenance facilities, ground handling services, insurance cover, and personnel.
The airline said the objection was lodged in line with Transportation Commission regulations, which allow for objections to be submitted against applications lodged.
“As Namibia’s first privately-owned scheduled passenger airline, FlyNamibia’s chief concerns are directed towards quality services and, above all, passenger safety. An unreliable airline with serious safety concerns could negatively affect the entire Namibian aviation industry and create negative public perception of the reliability and safety of all airlines and aircraft operators currently operating within Namibia,” FlyNamibia said.
“Safety is the most important concern for an airline because the lives of passengers and crew are at stake. Air travel involves complex systems and processes that require rigorous attention to detail and adherence to regulations to ensure safe operations. Safety is the foundation of the airline industry’s reputation and success.”
Fly Etosha Airways is currently seeking an air service licence and if successful, it will then submit an application for an air operator’s licence from the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority. Both licences are required for any airline to start offering flights in the country.
According to its social media platforms, FlyEtosha Airways is a private Namibian airline that will offer scheduled flights within Namibia, Southern Africa and later on international routes.
However, FlyNamibia and Westair Aviation’s objection raises concerns over the planned airline’s ability to ensure the safety of passengers, given its lack of resources.
According to a government gazette announcing the application for the granting of a Scheduled Air Services License, Fly Etosha seeks to invest in three Cessna Grand Caravan, three Beech 1900, three King Air 350, three ATR 42, two ATR – 72, three DASH , two DASH 8 Q 400 and two F-50.
FlyNamibia is currently the country’s sole domestic airline following the voluntary liquidation of Air Namibia in February 2021 amid financial viability concerns.
FlyNamibia, under its previous brand FlyWestair, has been operational since June 2019, expanding its network of flights to include domestic routes from Eros Airport in Windhoek to Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Oranjemund and now Walvis Bay, as well as a regional route from the Hosea Kutako International Airport to Cape Town.
