Namibia’s National Carrier Suspends All Operations, Grounds Aircraft with Immediate Effect

Air Namibia has decided to suspend all operations, cancelling all of its flights and grounding its aircraft with immediate effect while advising customers to cancel reservations and request refunds.

State owned newspaper, New Era, reports that this move leaves more than 600 employees without jobs, adding taht it  had been a cabinet decision to file for voluntary liquidation.

National broadcaster Namibian Broadcasting Corporation also reports that employees will receive a basic salary for the next 12 months but will not receive any benefits.

The airline has been having operational issues – the latest being last week’s resignation of board members who accused the government of interference.

According to aviation news website, Aviation24.be, Namibia Air had been having financial and safety problems, with the unforeseen effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the travel industry seeming to be the final blows.