NAM BOEINGS QUESTIONED

AIR Namibia’s recent purchase of a brand new Boeing 747-400 Combi is being challenged by a rival plane manufacturer because a proper tendering process was not followed. Airbus Industrie has asked the German Embassy to help them secure a meeting with the Namibian Government to obtain an explanation on why Air Namibia dumped tender procedures to buy an aeroplane from American aircraft manufacturers Boeing. The national airline invited tenders for the purchase of an aircraft last November and received at least 10 proposals. However, without any explanation to the companies that submitted tenders Air Namibia this year abandoned the process in favour of the Boeing aircraft – estimated to have cost about N$707 million. Boeing did not submit a tender.