The government says it has not entered into any binding agreement with Ethiopian Airlines or other parties over the establishment of Namibia Air, as it continues to assess options for a new national airline.
The Ministry of Works and Transport said on Wednesday that discussions with Ethiopian Airlines, local aviation operators and other stakeholders remain ongoing as part of efforts to determine a financially and commercially viable operating model for Namibia Air.
The clarification follows the circulation of a document purportedly detailing engagements between a Namibian delegation and Ethiopian Airlines.
The Ministry said it does not recognise the document as an official or accurate reflection of government deliberations or positions and said it was neither published nor released by the Ministry.
“The Ministry therefore refutes, in the strongest terms, any suggestion that the document represents Government policy, decisions, or concluded agreements,” the Ministry said.
“Any attempts to present this unauthorised material as factual or official are misleading and without foundation.”
According to the Ministry, discussions with Ethiopian Airlines are exploring possible technical and strategic cooperation, while consultations are also being held with local aviation operators and other stakeholders.
It said the engagements remain at an assessment stage and cover technical and commercial issues, with no binding commitments made to any party.
The government is seeking to establish a model that keeps Namibian expertise and national interests at the centre of the proposed airline while avoiding the financial and operational problems that led to the collapse of Air Namibia.
“The Government is determined to build a financially sustainable, operationally efficient, and commercially viable airline that will serve Namibians for generations to come,” the Ministry said.
The Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee and Interim Board tasked with overseeing the development of Namibia Air are continuing with the process.
The Ministry said any final decision on the airline’s structure and potential partnerships will be subject to technical, financial and commercial assessments, as well as the required government approval processes.
