The Namibian Presidency has issued a clarification regarding the government's plans to revive the national airline.

The clarification follows previous discussions around the re-establishment of a national carrier, with the government emphasising its commitment to a sustainable and well-structured model.

In the statement, the Presidency reaffirmed that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is committed to reviving Namibia's national airline through strategic measures that will prevent past mistakes. 

In this regard, the government will adopt a public-private partnership approach to ensure the airline operates on a solid business foundation.

The Presidency outlined key steps and timelines for the project's execution, which includes the completion of a comprehensive market study by June 2025 to assess the viability of the airline and market demand.

The government will also finalise the expression of interest for the Public-Private Partnership, inviting private sector partners to participate in the venture. The government has also set December 2025 for the finalisation of negotiations, which will lead to agreements with private sector partners.

The new airline is expected to officially launch and begin operations between June and December 2026.

The Presidency emphasised that this new airline will be built on a model designed to ensure sustainability and avoid the financial pitfalls that led to the collapse of Air Namibia in 2021. With a mix of private expertise and public oversight, the PPP model aims to offer a viable path forward for Namibia's aviation sector.

The statement clarified that the focus is not on reviving Air Namibia but on creating a new national airline that is more strategically sound, financially sustainable, and capable of meeting the needs of Namibia's growing air travel market.