Namibia discusses national airline relaunch with Ethiopian Airlines

The Namibian Ministry of Works and Transport has confirmed it is engaged in advanced technical and strategic discussions with Ethiopian Airlines to facilitate the relaunch of a national carrier. Ministry spokesperson Jonas Sheelongo stated that the consultations are currently analytical in nature and that no binding commitments have been signed.

The government aims to establish a sustainable business model that avoids the management failures and financial collapse that led to the closure of the former Air Namibia. Sheelongo emphasized that while exploring cooperation, the government intends to ensure that Namibian expertise and national interests remain central to any future arrangement.

Additionally, the ministry officially distanced itself from an unauthorized internal memo circulating in the media. The memo suggested a pre-agreement for a management contract and predicted five years of financial losses for the new airline. The ministry clarified that it does not recognize the document as an official or accurate reflection of its positions.