Windhoek (New Era) — An expected slowdown in corporate travellers during the festive season still saw Air Namibia achieve an average load factor of 73 percent on all its flights, domestically, regionally and internationally, which the national carrier describes as a satisfactory performance.
Air Namibia’s most popular domestic destinations during the festive season were Ondangwa and Walvis Bay.
During the festive season, Air Namibia’s worst-performing flights were the ones for December 24 (63 percent load factor), December 25 (68 percent load factor) and December 31 (58 percent load factor).
“The utilization was satisfactory given our known market characteristics. Namibia is primarily a leisure destination and normally experiences less corporate travellers during the festive season. We therefore, in line with industry practice, reduce flights over this period.
The reduction in flights is done at least nine months prior to the festive season and all stakeholders are informed well on time,” explained Paul Nakawa, Air Namibia’s manager for corporate communications.
Air Namibia introduced three weekly flights between Ondangwa and Walvis Bay at the end of November last year and the route has since performed well with an average load factor of 51 percent from Ondangwa to Walvis Bay while flights in the opposite direction, from Walvis Bay to Ondangwa, reached an average load factor of 83 percent.
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Combined results indicate that Air Namibia achieved an average load factor of 67 percent on this new route. “Given the relative short period after launch and absence of corporate travel, it certainly is a great achievement,” said Nakawa.
