Fly Namibia, the only scheduled airline in Namibia, has withdrawn its appeal against Fly Etosha, a newcomer airline founded by former Air Namibia pilot William Ekandjo.

This decision comes after Fly Namibia’s initial appeal against Fly Etosha’s operating license sparked a ‘violent negative reaction’ from the public. In this article, we will explore the background of this story and the reasons behind Fly Namibia’s initial appeal and subsequent withdrawal.

Fly Namibia’s Struggle to Keep New Competitors at Bay

Since the government liquidated Air Namibia in 2021, there has only been one scheduled airline in the country – Fly Namibia. However, the airline has been struggling for years and has caused heavy losses to the state.

Despite efforts to found a new national airline, nothing concrete has been established yet. In an attempt to expand and better reflect its role as a trustworthy Namibian airline, Fly Westair changed its name to Fly Namibia at the end of 2021. Currently, it serves domestic and South African destinations with 30 aircraft.

Fly Etosha’s Entry into the Market

William Ekandjo, a former Air Namibia pilot, announced the formation of Fly Etosha, that plans to debut around June 2023 and plans to serve several domestic and international destinations from Windhoek.

Fly Namibia, which is 40% owned by South Africa’s Airlink, lodged an appeal against Fly Etosha’s operating license, citing lack of financial resources, aircraft, maintenance facilities, ground handling services, insurance coverage, and staff. However, Ekandjo dismissed these allegations as unfounded and assured that Fly Etosha can meet all requirements.

Fly Namibia’s Withdrawal of Appeal

After considering the initial appeal and the negative reaction from the public, Fly Namibia has withdrawn its appeal against Fly Etosha. Managing Director André Compion stated that the appeal was never meant to pass judgment on the applicant or to prejudge any outcome but was made to ensure that the public received a safe and reliable flight service that met the requirements set out in the law.

“After considering our appeal as ‘business as usual’ in the aviation industry, we were surprised by the strong negative reaction from the public and have reconsidered our approach,” Managing Director André Compion said. “It was never our intention to pass judgment on the applicant or to prejudge any outcome”

Compion said Fly Namibia and its shareholders welcomed competition. “We currently compete directly with a number of foreign airlines, including Airlink and South African Airways, and we foresee and welcome more competition on the horizon with the imminent arrival of other regional airlines, such as FlySafair to Namibia,” he said.

Fly Namibia’s withdrawal of its appeal against Fly Etosha marks a new chapter in the Namibian aviation industry. While Fly Namibia remains the only scheduled airline in the country for now, Fly Etosha’s entry into the market could potentially provide more options for travelers and boost competition in the industry.

It remains to be seen how this story will develop in the coming months.