"In all my years as a permanent secretary and deputy permanent secretary I have never seen such a momentous decision taken before consulting those affected," Tukondjelanee Nghihalua told a press briefing in Windhoek yesterday.

Nghihalua said the NAC stands to lose about N$9 to N$10 million because of the move.

In response to a question, he said he had "made the company's disappointment clear" in a recent meeting with Prime Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab.

Nghihalua did not want to accept or reject the decision, however, saying now it had been taken there was no point in doing so. But he hinted that there were ulterior motives behind the Cabinet decision. "We know that safety is not the real reason behind the closure," he said.

The Namibian understands that Air Namibia, which operates regional flights out of Hosea Kutako International Airport, said in their business plan that they would lobby Cabinet to restrict Eros to domestic flights.

The Airports Company has a number of concessionaires operating shops and other services out of Eros Airport, who would now be making much lower profits, Nghihalua said.

"If they are to claim in the courts for loss of business, who will foot the bill?" he asked. "It must be those who took the decision."

Nghihalua said the NAC meeting with the Prime Minister was not to lobby him to change his mind, but merely to express their unhappiness. "If we were consulted, we could have proposed other solutions to whatever problems they had seen," he added.

Works Minister Moses Amweelo said in early October that Cabinet had taken the decision because of "the need to reduce the safety and environmental hazards" posed by the unrestricted use of Eros airport, which is located near to the city centre and residential areas.

According to Amweelo, Cabinet decided that "Eros Airport be the national hub for all domestic flights as well as non-scheduled or charter flights", whereas Hosea Kutako would be the national hub for all regional and international flights.

It was rumoured that the two airlines that use Eros for flights to South Africa, SA Express and SA Airlink, were taking business away from Air Namibia, which only operated flights out of Hosea Kutako International Airport, which is 40 km from the city.

The NAC says it has invested about N$7,9 million in Eros Airport, while concession holders have put in N$2,1 million over the past three years.

The Cabinet decision comes into effect at the beginning of next year.

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