/ 31 March 1999

NEW AIR NAMIBIA LEASE

TROUBLED Air Namibia has finalised an agreement with South African Airways to lease a Boeing 747-SP to replace the Boeing 767-300 used on its intercontinental routes. The aircraft is scheduled to arrive at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako Airport tomorrow. Since its inception until March last year, Air Namibia had leased a similar aircraft, the popular ‘Etosha’, from SAA. The Boeing 747 will be leased for six months to enable Air Namibia to buy its own aircraft in the near future. Briefing the media yesterday, Air Namibia officials conceded that the airline had made a mistake by leasing the Boeing 767. They said the 747 was more passenger-friendly and carried more cargo compared to the 767, and superior leasing and maintenance terms would cut costs.