FlyNamibia August 2023

NEW INITIATIVES FOR A MORE INCLUSIVE FUTURE

FlyNamibia hosted the "Engaging for Equality: Namibia Symposium on Air Travel and Disability Inclusion" event on 20 July 2023. The symposium brought together key stakeholders from the air travel industry to address the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and explore strategies to enhance disability inclusion in air travel.

Prominent industry leaders, disability advocates, policymakers, and representatives from various organisations participated in the symposium. The event focused on the limitations experienced by individuals with disabilities and sought innovative solutions to ensure equitable access to air travel.

The symposium featured opening remarks by Andre Compion, Managing Director of FlyNamibia, emphasising the airline's commitment to disability inclusion. Honourable Alexia Manombe-Ncube, Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the government's perspective and initiatives on disability inclusion in Namibia. A panel discussion included experts such as Andre Compion, Bisey Uirab, CEO of Namibia Airports Company, Honourable Deputy Minister Manombe-Ncube and Agnes Haufiku, Vice President of NNPC. The panel addressed the historical oversight of disability considerations in airport construction and recognised the unique challenges faced by individuals living with disabilities. Important interventions from the attendees of the event also highlighted other factors often overlooked when discussing the topic, including invisible disabilities and neurodivergence. Read more on page 69.

NEW BOOKING SYSTEM AND THE LAUNCH OF OUR NEW WEBSITE

FlyNamibia, through its partnership with Airlink, is now able to promote its flights and services to travel agents worldwide through the Global Distribution System (GDS). Starting from 24 July 2023, FlyNamibia has global access on a franchisee basis to the GDS, allowing its flights and schedule to be visible to customers in previously untapped markets. To enhance the booking process, FlyNamibia also launched a new website, the booking portal of which is managed in cooperation with Airlink, directly linked to the Amadeus Altea reservation portal, providing a convenient and user-friendly platform. Users may thus note co-branding on the booking portal, even though the flights will still be operated by FlyNamibia.

Andre Compion, CEO of FlyNamibia, views joining the GDS as a significant milestone for the airline, expanding its reach and benefiting Namibia's travel and tourism sectors. The partnership with Airlink, which acquired a 40% stake in FlyNamibia in September 2022, aligns with Namibia's plans to strengthen air services, position Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport as a regional hub, and capitalise on the country's economic expansion.

While FlyNamibia's inventory will be displayed on the GDS from 24 July, bookings for flights until 28 August will continue through the current reservation system on www.flynamibia.com.na. Reservations for flights from 29 August onwards will be available via the airline’s new website at www.flynam.com. Both websites will provide instructions for customers to access the applicable booking portal for their flight reservations. FlyNamibia will maintain parallel systems for five weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

Should you have any queries regarding our new site our booking your flight, please feel free to contact our 24/7 Contact Centre via info@flynamibia.com.na or call us at +264 83 339 0011.

We hope our new systems will elevate your travel experience with us even further and help support our goal of growing the Namibian aviation industry and contributing to Namibia’s economic development.

Happy flying!

The FlyNamibia team