Air Namibia returns to Ghana
Air Namibia acting managing director Mandi Samson says there is no reason the airline cannot succeed in West Africa, especially if others have tasted success.
Air Namibia believes that its choice to resume flights to Ghana will serve it in good stead and that the airline is poised to succeed this time in the West African country.
Air Namibia announced recently that it would once again be flying to Accra, Ghana, this time with the addition of a stopover in Lagos, Nigeria.
Air Namibia used to fly to Accra using Johannesburg as stopover.
Its optimism is perhaps bolstered by the fact that its first flight, which takes off on 29 June, has been fully booked.
Speaking on the development this week, Air Namibia acting managing director Mandi Samson said there was no reason the airline could not succeed in West Africa if other airlines could.
Other than South African Airways, Air Namibia will be the only southern African airline that flies to West Africa.
Motivating the decision to resume flights to Ghana, Samson said there was an active market.
“Nigeria, and West Africa in general, is home to one of the world's most populous nations. The market is big. The industry we operate in as Air Namibia is one where competition is fierce and cutthroat; to survive you have to be bold,” she said.
The recent entry into the Namibian market by some of the world's major airlines was an indication that there is a market here in Namibia and in Africa, she said.
KLM, Air France, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airways and Eurowings are some of the airlines that have recently started flying to Namibia.
“We shall not sit and wait for others from outside to come take the cake and reap the fruits while we stand aside and look,” Samson said.
“There have been questions about why we return to West Africa. Our answer to that is: Why are other airlines making it in West Africa?”
According to her, Air Namibia was ready for the challenges that lay ahead.
“There is no route you get which is green, it is like a field, it has to be cultivated, nurtured and worked on to make it work,” said Samson.
Air Namibia will use an Airbus A319 on the Accra–Lagos route, departing from Windhoek on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Airbus A319 offers a seat configuration of 16 business class and 96 economy class seats.
OGONE TLHAGE
Air Namibia announced recently that it would once again be flying to Accra, Ghana, this time with the addition of a stopover in Lagos, Nigeria.
Air Namibia used to fly to Accra using Johannesburg as stopover.
Its optimism is perhaps bolstered by the fact that its first flight, which takes off on 29 June, has been fully booked.
Speaking on the development this week, Air Namibia acting managing director Mandi Samson said there was no reason the airline could not succeed in West Africa if other airlines could.
Other than South African Airways, Air Namibia will be the only southern African airline that flies to West Africa.
Motivating the decision to resume flights to Ghana, Samson said there was an active market.
“Nigeria, and West Africa in general, is home to one of the world's most populous nations. The market is big. The industry we operate in as Air Namibia is one where competition is fierce and cutthroat; to survive you have to be bold,” she said.
The recent entry into the Namibian market by some of the world's major airlines was an indication that there is a market here in Namibia and in Africa, she said.
KLM, Air France, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airways and Eurowings are some of the airlines that have recently started flying to Namibia.
“We shall not sit and wait for others from outside to come take the cake and reap the fruits while we stand aside and look,” Samson said.
“There have been questions about why we return to West Africa. Our answer to that is: Why are other airlines making it in West Africa?”
According to her, Air Namibia was ready for the challenges that lay ahead.
“There is no route you get which is green, it is like a field, it has to be cultivated, nurtured and worked on to make it work,” said Samson.
Air Namibia will use an Airbus A319 on the Accra–Lagos route, departing from Windhoek on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Airbus A319 offers a seat configuration of 16 business class and 96 economy class seats.
OGONE TLHAGE
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