Air NamibiaSW

Air Namibia was the flag carrier airline of Namibia, operating scheduled domestic, regional, and international passenger and cargo services from its hub at Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport. The airline ceased all operations on February 11, 2021, when the Namibian government announced its immediate shutdown and liquidation due to overwhelming debt accumulated over decades.

The airline's origins trace back to November 1946, when South West Air Transport (SWAT) was established in what was then South West Africa (administered by South Africa). Operations began in 1949 linking Windhoek with Grootfontein using Ryan Navion aircraft. Following several mergers and name changes - including Suidwes Lugdiens (1959) and Namib Air (1978) - the airline was rebranded as Air Namibia in October 1991, following Namibian independence in 1990.

At its peak, Air Namibia served 18 destinations across 9 countries in Africa and Europe, operating a fleet of Airbus A330s, A319s, and Embraer ERJ-135 regional jets. The airline was known for its Frankfurt-Windhoek route, which began in 1991 and served as the primary connection between Namibia and Europe for nearly 30 years.