► NAMIBIA: (Video) Air Namibia takes delivery of first of two A330s from Airbus.

Air Namibia (SW), the Windhoek based national airline of Namibia, has taken delivery of its first A330-200 (MCN 1451 | V5-ANO) from Airbus at a ceremony in Toulouse, France. The aircraft is the first of two A330s being leased by Air Namibia from US lessor, Intrepid Aviation, on 12-year contracts.

► BOTSWANA: Kalahari Airways eyes flights to New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong via its Gaborone hub.

Denis Coghlan, the chief executive officer of the ambitious Botswana-based startup, Kalahari Airways, has outlined his longterm vision for the company in which he sees the establishment of Gaborone as a regional hub for flights to Hong Kong and the United States in addition to London.

► NAMIBIA: (Pics) Air Namibia's first A330 being readied for delivery later this month.

Air Namibia's (SW) first brand new Airbus A330-200, (MCN 1451 | V5-ANO), has begun flight tests ahead of its planned delivery to Windhoek later this month. The aircraft is part of a pair of A330s on lease from US-based leaser, Intrepid Aviation. The second aircraft, (MCN 1466 | V5-ANP) is due for delivery in November.

► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia issues further amendments to timetable for early - late September.

Namibian national carrier, Air Namibia (SW), has issued yet another advisory regarding an impending reorganization of its flights over the period September 9 to 23. In a statement, the airline said the move is necessary as one of its Airbus A319s and another Embraer ERJ135 are due to undergo mandatory maintenance over the period.

► SOUTH AFRICA: SA Express granted traffic rights to serve Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique out of Durban.

South African Express (XZ) has been granted traffic rights to serve Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique out of Durban following its application in October 2012. 

► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia ERJ135s to undergo maintenance in August; adjusts timetable accordingly.

Air Namibia has announced that owing to mandatory maintenance checks on its fleet of four Embraer ERJ135s, effective August 12-31 the following schedule changes have been made:

► NAMIBIA: Kenya Airways, Air Namibia sign codeshare agreement.

Kenya Airways (KQ) and Air Namibia (SW) have announced the signing of a new code-share agreement paving the way for daily connections between the airlines’ Nairobi and Windhoek hubs through Johannesburg in South Africa and Lusaka in Zambia. This code-share agreement with Air Namibia brings the total number of code-share arrangements that Kenya Airways has signed with other international carriers to twenty.

► ANGOLA: Air Namibia increases Luanda to daily from early August.

From 6 August 2013, Air Namibia (SW) will introduce an additional flight per week on Tuesdays on its Windhoek and Luanda route, bringing the total number of flights operated by the Namibian national carrier between the Namibian and Angolan capitals to seven weekly (i.e daily). Flights operate using an Airbus A319.

■ NAMIBIA: NAC planning to add a new terminal, runway at Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport.

The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has announced plans to construct a new passenger terminal and a second runway at the Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport as part of its five year strategic plan. Speaking in Windhoek during the handing over of two apron buses for use at the airport, Chairwoman Ms Ndeuhala Katonyala said that while the NAC is currently focussed on extending the current passenger terminal at Hosea Kutako to ease the flow of passengers, a new terminal would be required to meet anticipated long term growth.

■ NAMIBIA: Theo Namases blames NAC for holding back Air Namibia.

Theo Namases, the Managing Director of Air Namibia (SW), says a lack of collaboration between the airline and fellow parastatal, the Namibia Airport Company (NAC), is adversely affecting the former's operations.

► MOZAMBIQUE: LAM plans Cape Town and Durban, Blantyre and Lilongwe in 2014; to cover all SADC capitals by 2017 with Brazil ops also on the radar.

Marlene Manave, the CEO of LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM) has announced ambitious route expansion plans that will see the Mozambican carrier serving all Southern African Development Community (SADC) capitals by 2017 with Brazilian flights to follow.

► ZIMBABWE: LAM Mozambique, Air Namibia announce changes to their Harare operations.

Both LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (TM), and Air Namibia (SW) have announced changes to their Maputo -  Beira - Harare and Windhoek - Harare routes effective 31 March. LAM has now added an extra 3rd weekly service to the Zimbabwean capital, while Air Namibia operations will now route its Harare flights onwards to Lusaka, Zambia also effective 31 March. Days 1 and 5 will route Windhoek - Lusaka - Harare - Windhoek while Days 3 and 7 will route Windhoek - Harare - Lusaka - Windhoek.

►► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia to axe Accra, reduces Cape Town, Joburg due to low demand, Frankfurt due to A340s undergoing maintenance.

[UPDATE 7 APRIL] Air Namibia (SW) is, according to Amadeus, to axe its Windhoek - Accra (Ghana) flights effective 10 April. In addition, Windhoek to Cape Town, and Windhoek to Johannesburg flights are to be reduced from 3 to 2 a day, with Windhoek to Frankfurt flights being reduced to 4x a week effective immediately.

■ NAMIBIA: NAC upgrading Windhoek-Eros Airport with new fire station, blast fence.

The Namibian Airports Company (NAC) is currently constructing a new USD1.36million (NAD12.5million) state-of-the art fire and rescue station at Windhoek's Eros Airport. Together with  an emergency control centre, as well as ablution and recreational facilities for staff, the new facilities will allow the airport to comply with standards stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

■ NAMIBIA: Air Namibia settles its bill with Engen; Frankfurt nonstop resumes.

Air Namibia's (SW) has settled its outstanding debt with fuel supplier, South African based Engen. Fuel bills have continuously hurt the Namibian national carrier's coffers with an estimated 40% of revenue going to fuel related expenses alone.

■ NAMIBIA: Air Namibia due for $120mln bailout from Government this year with more big spending to come.

In what is fast becoming a bad trend amongst southern African carriers - the South African government "loaning" South African Airways (SA) over USD500million and Zimbabwe set to cover Air Zimbabwe's USD188million debt bill - it appears that the Namibian Government has now budgeted a whooping USD120million (NAD1.1billion) to pay for "business plan updates and outstanding debts" for struggling national carrier Air Namibia (SW), with further allocations due until 2016.

■ NAMIBIA: NAC to launch "FlyWindhoek" initiative aimed at luring more traffic to Hosea Kutako International Airport.

The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is in the process of setting up its formal air service development initiative dubbed "FlyWindhoek", aimed at boosting passenger traffic at Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport by bringing in more international tour operators and scheduled and charter airlines.

■ NAMIBIA: Tourism sector jittery as Government, Air Namibia remain mute on the latter's new business plan.

Contrary to the old adage that "No news is good news", the silence emanating from Windhoek regarding Air Namibia's (SW) new business plan, pitched to its sole shareholder, the Namibian Government, late last week, is starting to unsettle players in Namibia's tourism industry, already hit by the Eurozone crisis.

► NAMIBIA: See Video & Pics of Air Namibia's new A319's Arrival Ceremony in Windhoek.

Namibia's national carrier, Air Namibia (SW), last week Friday 4 January 2013, took delivery of the first of two Airbus A319s (MSN 5400 | V5-ANN) with the aircraft performing a welcoming fly-past over the city of Windhoek, as well as Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport.

■ NAMIBIA: Air Namibia strike ends as pilot's union accepts management's offer.

After nearly 2 weeks on strike and protracted negotiations that severely disrupted Namibian national carrier Air Namibia's operations, the Namibian Pilots Association (NAPA) has acquiesced to Air Namibia management's initial offer of a 5% pay rise.