Stop messing with Air Nam: Amathila

WINDHOEK – The Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Libertina Amathila, has called on opposition parliamentarians to stop what she described as their ‘endless negative criticism’ of Air Namibia.

Rather, Amathila said, they should focus on what the national airline contributes to the country’s economy.Speaking during the Budget debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Amathila said opposition parties continue to question Government bailouts of the national airline without realising the conditions under which it operates.She said the airline industry is very competitive the world over, but remains one of the safest modes of transport.Amathila told parliamentarians that even major airlines such as British Airways and the national airlines of Japan and France have made huge losses of late.She said despite the fact that Air Namibia is projected to have made a loss of N$180 million in the past financial year, the airline has been steadily reducing its operational losses over the past three years while income generated from cargo handling has been increasing.According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Air Namibia generates substantial funds from ticket sales, while the tourists it brings into the country spend huge amounts of money here.Amathila added that Air Namibia should be judged on its indirect contributions to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. – Nampa