EDITORIAL: Reviving the haunting memories of a national airline

As the incoming government unfurls its grand vision, one proposal flutters in with an unsettling sense of déjà vu – the proposed revival of a national airline.Namibians have not yet recovered from the ghost of Air Namibia, the bottomless pit that swallowed billions in taxpayer money before finally nosediving into liquidation. The crash was not just financial; it was a testament to political meddling, misplaced priorities, and an outright refusal to let aviation experts do their jobs.Now, President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah promises a rebirth – supposedly, this time, with a well-thought-out strategy.If ‘well-thought-out’ means a business model that demands fewer bailouts, we are on board. But let&#039;s be clear: no national airline can thrive if it remains a government-run toy, tossed between political egos and bureaucratic inefficiencies.The only viable route is a public-private partnership (PPP), where seasoned industry professionals – not political appointees – are in control of the steering wheel.Before its demise, Air Namibia was not just an airline; it was a political playground where clueless officials issued commercially suicidal orders with the confidence of seasoned pilots. Routes were opened on whims, operational costs spiralled, and turnaround strategies gathered dust while competitors soared past.If the new airline is to be resurrected merely for the feel-good sentiment of ‘national pride,’ then we are as good as shooting blanks in the paternity sweepstakes. Pride, however noble, does not pay the bills.The government has already demonstrated, at great cost, that it cannot successfully run an airline alone. The sooner our leaders embrace the wisdom of partnering with competent operators or abandon this dream altogether, the better. Namibia deserves an airline that flies, not one that merely drifts on the winds of nostalgia.

EDITORIAL: Reviving the haunting memories of a national airline

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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EDITORIAL: Reviving the haunting memories of a national airline

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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