From All Africa

Air Namibia has taken delivery of a brand new Airbus A330-200 aircraft as the national carrier entered the last phase of its re-fleeting programme expected to help reduce the airline’s dependence on government bail-outs.

The aircraft, being leased from Intrepid Aviation for 12 years, brings to four the number of brand new aircraft sourced by Air Namibia in nine months after the airline took delivery of two brand new A319-100 aircraft in December last year.

The A330-200 aircraft will replace the ageing A340-300 on Air Namibia’s intercontinental route between Windhoek and Frankfurt. Air Namibia’s re-fleeting programme is a key component of the airline’s five-year business plan adopted in July 2011.

Speaking during a ceremony held in Toulouse on Wednesday to mark the handover of the A330-200, Air Namibia Managing Director Theo Namases said although the airline has not yet turned the corner in terms of profitability, the low fuel and maintenance costs of the new aircraft compared to the A340-300, will help reduce the airline’s dependence on public funds.

The new aircraft will reduce Air Namibia’s fuel costs by 13%, and the airline said it expects to save up to N$8.5 million monthly as fuel constitutes over 40% of its operating costs.

Read more at allafrica.com