Namibia's air passenger traffic declines in January
Hosea Kutako remains primary hub
The number of passenger arrivals through Walvis Bay Airport terminals decreased to 3,881 in January 2025, compared to 5,413 passengers recorded in December 2024.
Namibia recorded 79,000 passenger arrivals and departures at airport terminals nationwide in January 2025, marking a decline from 89,442 passenger movements in December 2024. However, this represents an increase compared to the 71,988 passengers registered in January 2024.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s (NSA) passenger arrivals and departures report for January, the Passenger Movement Composite Index - which tracks international, regional, and domestic arrivals and departures at all airports - contracted by 11.7% in January 2025, compared to a 6.9% decline in December 2024. However, on an annual basis, the index increased by 9.7%.
Hosea Kutako Airport: The primary hub
The report highlights that Hosea Kutako International Airport remains the primary hub for air travel in Namibia, handling 76.4% of total passenger movements. Walvis Bay Airport and Eros Airport accounted for 11% and 6.2%, respectively.
The arrivals index for Hosea Kutako Airport fell by 17.3% in January 2025, compared to a 2.4% decline in December 2024. However, on a year-on-year basis, the index grew by 10.8%. The number of passenger arrivals recorded at Hosea Kutako Airport terminals dropped to 29,592 in January 2025, down from 35,775 in December 2024. However, this figure was higher than the 26,715 passenger arrivals registered in January 2024.
Meanwhile, the departures index for Hosea Kutako Airport showed signs of recovery, with a 9.7% decline in January, compared to a 14% drop in December. Annually, the index increased by 7.1%. The total number of passengers who departed through Hosea Kutako Airport stood at 30,759 in January 2025, below the 34,081 recorded in December 2024 but higher than the 28,731 passengers recorded in January 2024.
Walvis Bay Airport: Sharp monthly decline, strong annual growth
The arrivals index for Walvis Bay Airport declined by 28.3% in January 2025, a stark contrast to the 30.3% growth in December 2024. However, on an annual basis, the index rose by 24.5%. The number of passenger arrivals through Walvis Bay Airport terminals decreased to 3,881 in January 2025, compared to 5,413 passengers recorded in December 2024. However, this was still an increase from the 3,117 passengers recorded in January 2024.
The departures index for Walvis Bay Airport fell by 2.9% in January, in contrast to the 14.8% growth in December. However, year-on-year, the index grew by 19.7%. The total number of passengers who departed through Walvis Bay Airport was 4,779 in January 2025, slightly lower than the 4,921 recorded in December 2024 but higher than the 3,994 departures in January 2024.
Eros Airport: Modest growth in arrivals and departures
The arrivals index for Eros Airport increased by 4.6% in January 2025, reversing the 22.6% decline recorded in December 2024. However, on a year-on-year basis, the index declined by 8.2%. The number of passengers arriving via Eros Airport terminals increased to 2,410 in January 2025, compared to 2,303 in December 2024. However, this was lower than the 2,624 passenger arrivals recorded in January 2024.
Meanwhile, the departures index at Eros Airport increased by 6.6% in January, following a 19.3% decline in December. However, on an annual basis, the index contracted by 7%. The total number of passengers departing via Eros Airport in January 2025 rose to 2,495, up from 2,340 in December 2024, but lower than the 2,684 passengers recorded in January 2024.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s (NSA) passenger arrivals and departures report for January, the Passenger Movement Composite Index - which tracks international, regional, and domestic arrivals and departures at all airports - contracted by 11.7% in January 2025, compared to a 6.9% decline in December 2024. However, on an annual basis, the index increased by 9.7%.
Hosea Kutako Airport: The primary hub
The report highlights that Hosea Kutako International Airport remains the primary hub for air travel in Namibia, handling 76.4% of total passenger movements. Walvis Bay Airport and Eros Airport accounted for 11% and 6.2%, respectively.
The arrivals index for Hosea Kutako Airport fell by 17.3% in January 2025, compared to a 2.4% decline in December 2024. However, on a year-on-year basis, the index grew by 10.8%. The number of passenger arrivals recorded at Hosea Kutako Airport terminals dropped to 29,592 in January 2025, down from 35,775 in December 2024. However, this figure was higher than the 26,715 passenger arrivals registered in January 2024.
Meanwhile, the departures index for Hosea Kutako Airport showed signs of recovery, with a 9.7% decline in January, compared to a 14% drop in December. Annually, the index increased by 7.1%. The total number of passengers who departed through Hosea Kutako Airport stood at 30,759 in January 2025, below the 34,081 recorded in December 2024 but higher than the 28,731 passengers recorded in January 2024.
Walvis Bay Airport: Sharp monthly decline, strong annual growth
The arrivals index for Walvis Bay Airport declined by 28.3% in January 2025, a stark contrast to the 30.3% growth in December 2024. However, on an annual basis, the index rose by 24.5%. The number of passenger arrivals through Walvis Bay Airport terminals decreased to 3,881 in January 2025, compared to 5,413 passengers recorded in December 2024. However, this was still an increase from the 3,117 passengers recorded in January 2024.
The departures index for Walvis Bay Airport fell by 2.9% in January, in contrast to the 14.8% growth in December. However, year-on-year, the index grew by 19.7%. The total number of passengers who departed through Walvis Bay Airport was 4,779 in January 2025, slightly lower than the 4,921 recorded in December 2024 but higher than the 3,994 departures in January 2024.
Eros Airport: Modest growth in arrivals and departures
The arrivals index for Eros Airport increased by 4.6% in January 2025, reversing the 22.6% decline recorded in December 2024. However, on a year-on-year basis, the index declined by 8.2%. The number of passengers arriving via Eros Airport terminals increased to 2,410 in January 2025, compared to 2,303 in December 2024. However, this was lower than the 2,624 passenger arrivals recorded in January 2024.
Meanwhile, the departures index at Eros Airport increased by 6.6% in January, following a 19.3% decline in December. However, on an annual basis, the index contracted by 7%. The total number of passengers departing via Eros Airport in January 2025 rose to 2,495, up from 2,340 in December 2024, but lower than the 2,684 passengers recorded in January 2024.
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