The Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, fears Fly Namibia might close its route from Eros Airport to Rundu.

This comes after his recent experience on a trip to Rundu as the only passenger on the plane.

John Mutorwa says the number of passengers flying from Eros Airport to Rundu has been minimal, and this can be controlled.

"On June 21, 2023, I took a flight from Eros Airport to Rundu, and I was the only passenger in that plane. Then I started to ask questions about what the problem was, and I consulted the leadership here, the Governor Chairperson of the regional council, and also the management of Fly Namibia, and we agreed that before we try to reach any conclusion, which could be a false conclusion, it would be better if we organised a stakeholder engagement and information sharing meeting right here in Rundu."

Mutorwa says during the time of Air Namibia, the route to Rundu was at one point almost closed due to a lack of passengers, but the situation improved.

During the meeting held with stakeholders at Rundu, it was noted that the marketing of the flight has not been sufficient and was deemed a major contributor to the problem.

"During the meeting, it became very clear that one of the most important aspects that was identified by everybody is that the marketing of this Fly Namibia is not, or maybe one can say has not yet reached its maximum; people don't even know the location of the office of Fly Namibia here. Apart from the marketing, the stakeholders also mentioned that the price seemed to be too high."

Mutorwa stressed that flight prices increase with a lack of passengers.

The minister said Fly Namibia has promised to improve their marketing of the route and vowed that the government would meet the company halfway in improving airport facilities.

"The Namibia airport company a company of government which is responsible for the maintenance and administration and management of public airports meaning government airports they have a programme apart from upgrading they have a programme also to improving the facility at the terminal they have already done so with Hosea Kutako international airport they have also done so in terms of the Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo airport in Ondangwa, Hans they are now looking at Katina mulilo airport to shift the terminal to a proper space and construct proper facilities there, we gave the same information here in Rundu to the local authorities mayor and his colleagues so we also then brought the Namibian airports company to establish how far they are well there CEO who was present in that meeting did explain that they are just in the final stages of consultations in order now to reach a final decision as to when they are going to avail land."

Mutorwa said land was requested from the local authority earlier this year to construct an airport terminal.

He called on the regional leadership to prioritise the project to ensure money is not diverted from it.