Air Namibia flights from Frankfurt to Windhoek have been affected by the downgrading of Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA), following an audit by the Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA) on Namibia Airports Company’s (NAC) facilities. HKIA has been downgraded from Category 9 to Category 5. Air Namibia released a statement saying: “The downgrading poses negative implications on the take-offs and landing of our A330-200 aircraft, which requires category 8 airport for landing and take-off. This moratorium came into effect due to inadequacy of fire and rescue equipment by NCA.” The airline said it was not authorised to operate into and out of HKIA with its A330-200. Air Namibia’s manager of commercial for Cape Town, Margaret De Gois, says the airline has implemented a contingency plan: “Passengers flying from Frankfurt will be flown into Gaborone and from there they will be taken by Air Namibia’s A319s to Windhoek. Flight departure times will remain the same but arrival times will vary depending on aircraft availability.” It is expected that NAC will execute and rectify the respective shortcomings, which will result in the international airport being upgraded to Category 9, the airline said in the statement. Air Namibia’s flights from South Africa to Namibia remain unaffected.

SAA told Tourism Update there was no immediate passenger impact as a result of the announcement. “We have, however, changed the aircraft type that operates on that sector to an A319 and A320,” spokesperson Tlali Tlai said. BA Comair flights were also unaffected as the airline operates B737 aircraft from South Africa to Namibia. SA Express had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication. Debbie Badham & Natasha Tippel