Turning Air Nam Into Low-Cost Venture

AS a loyal and patriotic Namibian I love this country and believe it has the potential to develop by 2050 if we all just put in the effort and hard work needed to lift our combined standard of living.

Why then does Government subsidise Air Namibia if they are so expensive and inefficient? Business is key to developing Namibia. Our business people have to be able to fly cheaply and reliably to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Harare, Luanda, Lusaka, Gaborone for business meetings and to strike new deals.However as the situation stands it costs an UNBELIEVABLE N$3 800 for a return plane ticket to Cape Town or Johannesburg on Air Namibia.A large part of this is due to excessive ‘international’ airport taxes.The Namibian Government and SADC must remove these oppressive airport taxes and allow low cost airlines such as Kulula airlines (www.kulula.com) and 1time airlines (www.1time.aero), both Johannesburg-based privately owned airlines, to enter Namibia without airport taxes.The reason for this is simple they charge HALF as much as Air Namibia for the same distance flights in South Africa.They are around R1 600 for a return flight between Johannesburg and Cape Town, a flight distance of approximately 1 500 kilometres.This is the same as the flight distance from Windhoek to Jo’burg, or Windhoek to Cape Town, also 1 500 kilometres.So why should it cost more than double to fly Air Namibia or South African Airways from Cape Town/Jo’burg to Windhoek than on Kulula or 1time between Cape Town and Johannesburg? The Government should open up the airports to these low-cost airlines and this will aid not only the consumers who want to fly, but it will also increase tourist numbers.The Government thinks it will lose tax revenue, but not so: more tourists will spend more on the airline and in Windhoek, and there will be an indirect increase from VAT and consumption in Namibia.The Open Skies policy was applied in the EU several years ago and has resulted in much lower-priced European air travel.Flying from England to France can cost just N$300 one way including airport taxes.Stop wasting money trying to ‘subsidies’ for Air Namibia? Sell Air Namibia to Kulula and ask Kulula to just keep the flag on the planes.Make Air Namibia a low-cost privately owned carrier.Please Minister of Finance, stop wasting our hard-earned tax money.J Nujoma Via e-mailOur business people have to be able to fly cheaply and reliably to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Harare, Luanda, Lusaka, Gaborone for business meetings and to strike new deals.However as the situation stands it costs an UNBELIEVABLE N$3 800 for a return plane ticket to Cape Town or Johannesburg on Air Namibia.A large part of this is due to excessive ‘international’ airport taxes.The Namibian Government and SADC must remove these oppressive airport taxes and allow low cost airlines such as Kulula airlines (www.kulula.com) and 1time airlines (www.1time.aero), both Johannesburg-based privately owned airlines, to enter Namibia without airport taxes.The reason for this is simple they charge HALF as much as Air Namibia for the same distance flights in South Africa.They are around R1 600 for a return flight between Johannesburg and Cape Town, a flight distance of approximately 1 500 kilometres.This is the same as the flight distance from Windhoek to Jo’burg, or Windhoek to Cape Town, also 1 500 kilometres.So why should it cost more than double to fly Air Namibia or South African Airways from Cape Town/Jo’burg to Windhoek than on Kulula or 1time between Cape Town and Johannesburg? The Government should open up the airports to these low-cost airlines and this will aid not only the consumers who want to fly, but it will also increase tourist numbers.The Government thinks it will lose tax revenue, but not so: more tourists will spend more on the airline and in Windhoek, and there will be an indirect increase from VAT and consumption in Namibia.The Open Skies policy was applied in the EU several years ago and has resulted in much lower-priced European air travel.Flying from England to France can cost just N$300 one way including airport taxes.Stop wasting money trying to ‘subsidies’ for Air Namibia? Sell Air Namibia to Kulula and ask Kulula to just keep the flag on the planes.Make Air Namibia a low-cost privately owned carrier.Please Minister of Finance, stop wasting our hard-earned tax money.J Nujoma Via e-mail