Air Namibia's Executive for Business Development, Xavier Masule, says there has been a growth in demand for flights from Walvis Bay to South Africa and the airline's Boeing 737-500 might be used on this route as soon as September.

Air Namibia's regional flights from Walvis Bay were suspended in 2001 due to low demand.

"We only had the one 737 for regional operations, but it was not viable to use it for scheduled flights from Walvis Bay anymore, except for the occasional charter," he told The Namibian.

Air Namibia now has two 737s and, depending on approval by the Namibia Airports Company, plans to reintroduce flights to and from Walvis Bay before the end of the year.

The upgrade of the Walvis Bay airport has entered its final stages.

The project includes the widening and lengthening of the runways and building "heavyweight" aprons for large aircraft.

The project is financed by the Spanish Government to the tune of N$320 million.

Additional projects such as upgrading the terminal to handle more passengers and the construction of a fire station, financed by the Namibia Airports Company, are also in the pipeline.

Tenders have already been sent out, a reliable source told The Namibian.

The upgraded airport will mostly be used for international cargo flights - mainly fish exports to Europe.

The viability of passenger flights to the Americas still has to be evaluated.

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