FlyNamibia is set to expand its regional presence by introducing flights to three new destinations: Victoria Falls International Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe, Maun International Airport (MUB) in Botswana, and Luanda (LAD) in Angola. This expansion will more than triple the airline’s current number of regional destinations.
The new routes are expected to commence in April 2024, although schedules have not yet been released. FlyNamibia’s Managing Director, Andre Compion, has confirmed that the airline is now in the final stages of preparations for the Luanda flights.
The expansion will also see FlyNamibia increase the number of aircraft it operates through Westair Aviation. Currently, the Windhoek-based carrier has four Embraer ERJ-145s in its fleet, all leased from Westair. Additionally, FlyNamibia expects delivery of an ERJ-135, which was previously operated by Air Namibia. It is important to note that FlyNamibia is 60% owned by Westair and 40% by Airlink, and it uses the latter’s 4Z code.
The new destinations will allow FlyNamibia to play a significant role in boosting tourism in Southern Africa by connecting some of the region’s most popular tourist cities. Maun is known as the ‘tourism capital’ of Botswana, while Victoria Falls is one of the most visited destinations in Southern Africa.
The launch of Luanda flights could also position the carrier to serve the thousands of Namibian visitors who travel to Angola, as well as other nationalities connecting via Luanda. FlyNamibia recently launched flights between Walvis Bay (WVB) and Cape Town (CPT), which is currently its only destination outside Namibia.
