SOLD: Air Namibia’s two Embraer aircraft have been sold to local leasing company, Wings Aviation.
SOLD: Air Namibia’s two Embraer aircraft have been sold to local leasing company, Wings Aviation.

WestAir bigwigs buy Air Namibia planes

Liquidators accused of favouritism in sale of jets
The planes are meant to be leased to Wings Aviation clients, who include FlyNamibia, but the Namibian airline denies any links to the deal.
Ogone Tlhage
A company in which WestAir Aviation chairman Wolfgang Grellmann and group managing director Gustav Holz serve as directors has acquired two Embraer jets previously owned by liquidated Air Namibia, amid accusations that the planes were sold dubiously by liquidators Bruni and McLaren.

In a letter to finance and public enterprises minister Iipumbu Shiimi late last year, suitors and aviation partners Progress Aviation and AB Airlines accused the liquidators of acting unethically.

This after Bruni and McLaren allegedly refused to view bids the partners made for two Embraer 135 jets they intended to buy following the airline’s demise in 2021.

The liquidators confirmed the sale of the jets to Wings Aviation Services upon enquiry from Namibian Sun.

Grellmann and Holz also confirmed that Wings had purchased the jets, but said they could not currently be put into service.

Wings takes ownership

“The aircraft are currently not in an airworthy condition, having stood for more than three years, and for the time being need to undergo complete refurbishment and heavy maintenance.

“Upon completion of this maintenance, the aircraft will be leased to clients that may include any of [our] current or new clients,” they said.

The duo added that Wings is a leasing company whose clients include WestAir and FlyNamibia.

“Wings Aviation Services is a 100% Namibian-owned aircraft leasing company. It holds a number of aircraft that [are] being leased to airlines and aviation operators across the African continent,” Grellmann and Holz said.

Westair, FlyNamibia not a factor

FlyNamibia CEO Andre Compion said there was no connection between the two companies, despite Grellmann and Holz’s attachment to FlyNamibia through the Westair Group, which is a 40% equity partner in the airline together with South African-based Airlink (40%). Local lawyer Philip Ellis and Compion both hold 10% each in the airline.

“FlyNamibia has its own board, management and staff and I am the managing director thereof. Mr Grellmann is not a director of FlyNamibia, neither is Mr Holz. There cannot possibly be any conflict since FlyNamibia acts in its own best interest totally independent from WestAir.

“If we should lease the aircraft from Wings Aviation, it will be at a commercially viable rate to both parties, as we would negotiate with any other lessor,” Compion said.

Suitors claim irregularities

According to Progress Aviation and AB Airlines, they complied with all requirements set out by Bruni and McLaren for the purchase of aircraft last year, but were not treated fairly.

The partners further requested proof from the liquidators that the aircraft were sold, but have yet to receive a favourable response.

“We requested that the liquidator provide evidence of the bidder’s payment and the process used as we were advised to travel to Namibia and submit our bid as per the liquidator’s requirements, as this was open to all stakeholders,” they said.

“Consequently, we feel that we were not treated with honesty, transparency or fairness during this process. We respectfully request that [Shiimi’s] office provide us with a fair bidding process.”

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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