Air Namibia
Namibia · NAMIBIA · Active
Airline Identity
History
Air Namibia's lineage traces to South West Air Transport, founded in November 1946, which evolved through several mergers and name changes before being reconstituted as Air Namibia in October 1991 following Namibian independence, becoming the country's flag carrier. It was wholly owned by the Namibian government and operated a mixed domestic, regional, and long-haul international network from Windhoek for three decades, but the airline never became profitable and depended on repeated state bailouts.
Current Operations
Air Namibia no longer exists: on 11 February 2021 the Namibian government announced the airline's immediate liquidation, citing unsustainable debt (estimated around N$3.5 billion/roughly US$453 million in total shutdown and creditor costs) after decades of losses, and all flights and the airline's operating licence ended at that time. The government has since been developing a planned successor carrier, Namibia Air, which as of 2026 was targeting a launch later in the year, but this is a distinct new entity and Air Namibia itself remains permanently defunct.
Last verified 2026-09-03· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.