Swiss holiday airline Edelweiss has launched a new non-stop service between Windhoek and Zurich, marking a new direct connection between Namibia and Switzerland.
The inaugural flight WK 83 departed Hosea Kutako International Airport on Monday evening with 253 passengers on board. The twice-a-week flight will reduce travel time between the two countries, providing travellers with a non-stop service into Namibia.
Speaking in Windhoek, Edelweiss Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bernd Bauer said Namibia offers attractions that appeal to international visitors, including nature, wildlife and its coastline.
He said Namibia complements the airline's existing Cape Town route, which mainly serves the winter season market.
"With the spending in the hotels, with the tours around in a country of about 30 million per year, which we should generate here in Namibia with this operation. And that's already quite a big impact for the tourism here. We are very strongly building on partnerships here in Namibia, also with a tourism organisation in Europe, but also here locally. And we hope that we can really make it a success."
Lufthansa Southern Africa General Manager Jeffrey Harrison said the new service has already facilitated passenger movement between Namibia and destinations across Europe and the United States.
"We had 285 passengers arriving from various European and US destinations yesterday in the first arrival of the Edelweiss flight. For our departing flight we had 260 departing guests on board the first Windhoek flight."
Harrison said Lufthansa Group's growth reflects the importance of Namibia within the group's Southern African network and among travellers visiting the region. Lufthansa started with three direct flights per week between Windhoek and Frankfurt.
"We now currently with Edelweiss operating to Namibia are currently operating 13 flights from the 15th of July, 13 weekly flights to our multi-hub European destinations."
The new Windhoek-Zurich route forms part of the Lufthansa Group's expansion in Southern Africa and is expected to increase connectivity between Namibia, Europe and North America.