Namibia’s public-private air service development initiative, Air Connect Namibia, has significantly expanded the country’s international air connectivity since its formal launch in May 2024.
The initiative has supported the growth of Namibia’s international route network, increasing the number of international destinations served from 10 in 2023 to 17 by 2026. This comprises three intercontinental and 14 intracontinental destinations, with a total of 135 weekly international frequencies serving Windhoek, Walvis Bay and Katima Mulilo.
Air Connect Namibia has added more than 120,000 seats to Namibia’s international network since its formation. Total international passenger volumes reached 1,033,241 in 2024, representing an 11% year-on-year increase. For the January to October 2025 period, passenger numbers rose to 955,953.
Several new and expanded services have contributed to this growth. Discover Airlines launched a three-times-weekly Munich–Windhoek service in April 2025, while FlySafair introduced a twice-weekly Cape Town–Windhoek route in October 2024. South African Airways increased capacity to 21 weekly frequencies between Johannesburg and Windhoek, and Airlink expanded its Johannesburg–Walvis Bay operations to a double-daily service, strengthening access to Namibia’s coastal and logistics corridors. Additional regional connectivity was added through Fly Angola’s Luanda–Catumbela–Windhoek service in December 2024, with plans for its reintroduction in the second quarter of 2026 following a temporary suspension.
Further network expansion is scheduled for 2026. Edelweiss Air will introduce a twice-weekly seasonal Zurich–Windhoek service from 1 June 2026, and Proflight Zambia plans to launch a Lusaka–Livingstone–Windhoek service in the first quarter of 2026.
Air Connect Namibia estimates that the Edelweiss Zurich–Windhoek service could generate between N$250 million and N$337 million in direct tourism spend over a 12-month operating period, depending on load factors. The Proflight Zambia route is projected to contribute between N$119 million and N$160 million in direct tourism spend, with annual passenger volumes estimated at between 16,000 and 22,000.
The initiative continues to engage airlines from unserved and underserved markets, including Paris, Milan, London, Brussels and Amsterdam, while also targeting high-potential markets across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and North America. In parallel, airport infrastructure upgrades at Hosea Kutako International Airport, Walvis Bay, Rundu, Katima Mulilo and Lüderitz are being explored to support future growth in passenger, cargo and energy-related traffic.
