Air Namibia, the national carrier for the Republic of Namibia is expanding its footprint in Southern Africa with the introduction of a flight to Lusaka, Zambia from 25 October 2009.

The airline will operate five weekly flights between Windhoek and Lusaka, via Johannesburg. In addition to traffic between Namibia and Zambia, the airline will also offer flights for traffic between Johannesburg and Lusaka.

We are also pleased to announce at the same time that we will be improving our service offering by providing an early morning departure at 08:10 from Windhoek to Johannesburg and an evening departure at 18:30 from Johannesburg to Windhoek. This service improves the offering to Windhoek based business and leisure travelers who can now travel to Johannesburg and return same day, affording them a full business day. The same service and option is available to Johannesburg originating business and leisure travelers.

The weekly schedule for Lusaka is as follows:

• Days of operation: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• Operating times:
  • Depart Windhoek at 08:10 and arrive in Johannesburg at 09:55,
  • Depart Johannesburg at 11:40 and arrive in Lusaka at 13:40,
  • Depart Lusaka at 14:40 and arrive in Johannesburg at 16:40, and
  • Depart Johannesburg at 18:30 and arriving in Windhoek at 20:30.

The Lusaka route launch marks the beginning of Air Namibia’s aggressive regional routes expansion to protect revenues that have come under immense pressure since the onset of the global financial crisis as well as claiming its rightful share in the long standing battle for control of the continent’s air space.

Air Namibia brings to the Zambia/South Africa air travel market its well known excellent customer service standards, underpinned by high levels of safety, reliability, efficiency, caring and friendliness. In the past six years, the airline has won the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) feather Award for “Best Regional Airline”, four times for consistent and excellent customer service standards.

The introduction of the Lusaka route is in line with Air Namibia’s business plan adopted in 2007 to consolidate and rationalise the existing route network. The airline aims to attain meaningful growth through optimisation and participation in the “open skies” initiative (Yamoussoukro declaration of 2000) on the African Continent.

The new route is also part of the contribution by Air Namibia to the realisation of the SADC vision of contributing towards regional economic. Thereby ensuring economic well-being, improvement of living standards and quality of life, freedom and social justice; peace and security for the peoples of Southern Africa through Regional Integration.

The sector between Johannesburg and Lusaka will be done in cooperation with Zambezi Airlines, as per recently concluded code share agreement. Air Namibia will operate (five) 5 flights per week with Zambezi Airlines as a marketing carrier or code partner while Air Namibia will code share on  Zambezi Airlines on Tuesdays and Thursdays.