SPYL bashes sale of Air Namibia planes to rivals

The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has condemned the sale of Air Namibia’s Embraer jets to Wings Aviation, a local leasing company.The airline’s liquidators Bruni and McLaren confirmed the sale of the aircraft to Wings, a company owned by WestAir group chairman Wolfgang Grellmann and managing director Gustav Holz.“SPYL is saddened to learn that the planes that belonged to our now liquidated national airline Air Namibia are being sold to WestAir. We have always maintained that the liquidation of Air Namibia was a concocted move to pave a way for a private airline, at the expense of our airline,” its secretary Ephraim Nekongo said.Air Namibia’s liquidation gave rise to private airlines monopolising Namibia’s aviation sector, he added.“We have warned government throughout that the private airlines will take over Namibia’s commercial airspace, and monopolise it to amass maximum profits at the expense of our people.”The sale of the jets to Wings Aviation was deliberate, Nekongo added.“We will continue to stand firm that the deliberate liquidation of Air Namibia was a wilful move to surrender our airspace to the private sector so that they exert monopoly over that sector.”‘Unethical’In a letter to finance and public enterprises minister Iipumbu Shiimi late last year, suitors and aviation partners Progress Aviation and AB Airlines accused Bruni and McLaren of acting unethically regarding the sale of Air Namibia&#039;s aircraft.This after the liquidators allegedly refused to view bids the partners made for two Embraer 135 jets they intended to buy following the airline’s demise in 2021.According to Progress Aviation and AB Airlines, they complied with all requirements set out by Bruni and McLaren for the purchase of the 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.

SPYL bashes sale of Air Namibia planes to rivals

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-10

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SPYL bashes sale of Air Namibia planes to rivals

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Namibian Sun 2026-11-10

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