Namibia recorded more than one million origin-destination air passengers between January and October 2025, reflecting sustained growth in air travel and expanding connectivity, according to Air Connect Namibia chairperson and Namibia Airports Company chief executive officer Bisey Uirab.
Uirab said passenger numbers increased by 11% over the period, extending an upward trend recorded in 2024 when the country also surpassed one million origin-destination passengers.
He noted that the 2024 figure represented an 11% increase compared with 2023, pointing to a steady recovery and continued growth in the aviation sector.
“The growth in passenger numbers is closely linked to improvements in Namibia’s international route network. In 2023, Namibia’s airports served 10 international destinations. This figure is expected to rise to 17 destinations by mid-2026 through direct or non-stop services,” Uirab said.
Speaking at a Namibia Air Connect stakeholder engagement on Wednesday, Uirab said the expansion has been driven by new and expanded airline services secured over the past 24 months through Air Connect Namibia.
He said Proflight Zambia has announced a Lusaka–Livingstone–Windhoek route scheduled to launch in March 2026, while Edelweiss is expected to commence a Zurich–Windhoek service in mid-2026.
Uirab added that additional capacity has already been introduced, including the launch of a Munich–Windhoek service by Discover Airlines in 2025 and a Cape Town–Windhoek service by FlySafair, marking Namibia’s first low-cost international connection.
He said South African Airways expanded its Johannesburg–Windhoek service, Fly Angola became the second carrier connecting Namibia and Angola, and Airlink increased capacity on its Johannesburg–Walvis Bay route.
According to Uirab, these developments have added more than 120,000 new international seats to Namibia’s aviation network, strengthening access to both regional and long-haul markets.
“Improved air access is reflected in the expansion of Namibia’s regional network, which grew from eight destinations in 2023 to an expected 14 destinations by 2026. The European network is also set to expand from one destination in 2023 to three destinations by 2026,” he said.
At the same event, advisor to the Minister of Works and Transport and manager of the Public Assets Management Agency, Kristofine Naunyango, said aviation is central to Namibia’s development, ensuring that the benefits of growth reach all parts of the country.
“We stand at a moment where we can leverage aviation as a tool for sustainable, inclusive and transformative development. We must invest wisely, plan strategically and act decisively to ensure that Namibia’s aviation sector continues to grow, innovate and deliver prosperity for generations to come,” Naunyango said.
She added that for a geographically vast country located at the southern tip of Africa, air connectivity is essential, linking tourism and economic centres with regional hubs, rural communities and international markets.
“Namibia is a long-haul destination for many of our key source markets, including Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Visitors from these regions arrive not only to experience our natural beauty and wildlife, but also to invest in our economy, learn from our expertise and participate in the growth story of our nation,” she said.
