Transport & Mobility Interest Grows: SAA aims for the sky’s

AUTHOR: David Jarrett and Team Editor@ RDJ Publishing and RDJ Group ChiefExecutiveOfficer

Airports Council International (ACI) World has in their assessment notes 2024 is expected to be a milestone for global passenger traffic recovery as it reaches 9 4 billion passengers, surpassing the year 2019 that welcomed 9 2 billion passengers (102 5% of the 2019 level). Compared to the pre-COVID forecast that predicted 10.9 billion passengers in 2024, the effects of the pandemic represent a potential loss of 13.9%.

Namibia is continuing to show growth in the aviation sector with impressive arrival figures year on year The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has initiated Air Connect Namibia, a project that seeks to establish the country as a “hub” and attract new international flight routes. The Africa region is expected to have a steadily increasing pattern for the upcoming years, reaching 221 million passengers, or 96 3% of the 2019 level, in the year 2023 The region is forecasted to reach 253 million passengers, or 110 6% of the 2019 level, by the end of 2024 This steady growth is expected to be driven by emerging markets, such as Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia.

NAC CEO, Mr Bisey Uirab said the “initiative aligns with their mission to enhance Namibia's connectivity, focusing initially on Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek” Post pandemic recovery of the sector had been slow initially but notable growth in the alter half of 2021 and 2022 is encouraging. Not surprising due to the general benefits brought about speed, general comfort and most importantly, safety. This will be enhanced with the increases from South African Airways (SAA) adding to this Post Covid, South African Airways (SAA), relaunched its Windhoek route in December 2022, noting the Windhoek route is part of SAA’s plans to continue its restart strategy, opening additional route networks to various regional destinations and growing the airline.

The revival adds to the more than 60-year history of SAA flights into Namibia To accomplish this fete as noted by others, SAA is currently operating 13 aircraft Among them are one Airbus A330-300, one A340-300, eight A320s and two Boeing 737-800s wet-leased from Turkish Airlines/Lufthans a joint venture carrier SunExpress. By the end of its fiscal 2025 (March 3, 2025), SAA aims to grow the fleet to 21 aircraft, including more A320s and A330s, plus one additional A340 Other carriers with operations in Namibia include Ethiopian Airlines, Lufthansa / Eurowings, South African Airways, Airlink/Fly Namibia and TAAG Angola Airlines.

However, for the aviation followers who remember SAA and Airlink partnership has floundered with SAA confirming that no future deal would be considered We can only assume this is on the back of the Airlink / FlyNamibia partnership earlier in September 2022. The result from our perspective is this will lead then to increased avenues for commutersseekingtraveloptionstoNamibia.

“2024 is off to a strong start despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties. As governments look to build prosperity in their economies in the busiest election-year ever, it is critical that they see aviation as a catalyst for growth. Increased taxes and onerous regulation are a counterweight to prosperity We will be looking to governments for policies that help aviation to reduce costs, improve efficiency and make progress towards net zero CO2 emissions by 2050,” said Willie Walsh, Director General of theInternationalAirTransportAssociation(IATA).

Globally, the deliveries of new aircrafts in 2023 are expected to have been around 1,300 (Boeing and Airbus) increasing options for airlines and increasing capacity on routes Africa has 2 – 3 percent of the global air traffic for commuters and competition will benefit Namibia as air traffic is expected to grow faster in Africa (with an average of 4 7%), than in Europe (2 7%) and North America (3 3%) While we focus on commuters, air cargo is also seeing increased interest, with Suid Cargo commencing cargo flights from its hub in Johannesburg via non-scheduled operations

Improved competitiveness of Namibia will increase through all of these “new” partnerships especially for the neighbouring landlocked countries, creating an “air-sea” bridge. A lot of work will be required but as always a journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step and theconversationcontinues infocus@rdjpublishing.africa

Readings:

https://www flightconnections com/flights-to-windhoek-wdh https://www flysaa com/about-us/leading-carrier/mediacenter/media-releases/newsroom https://aviationweek com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/southafrican-airways-aims-triple-fleet https://www flyairlink com/en/za/airlink-invests-in-flynamibia https://www emerald com/insight/content/doi/10 1108/JFM-072022-0076/full/html https://www afraa org/suid-cargo-launch-of-south-africas-newestcargo-airline/ https://aci aero/2023/09/27/global-passenger-traffic-expected-torecover-by-2024-and-reach-9-4-billion-passengers/