Westair Aviation

Westair Aviation Limited is a registered airline of Namibia and offers scheduled passenger and cargo services. [5][6] Westair Aviation is a fully integrated aviation service provider based at Windhoek-Eros. Fifty years ago, in 1967, Westair Aviation originally started out as an aircraft maintenance facility and has since grown to become a passenger and freight aviation company .[7] The airline has become a leading provider of ad-hoc as well as air chartered services in Namibia, providing long-term lease and aircraft maintenance services from its Eros-hub.[8] In June 2019, the airline was granted designated carrier status by the Namibian Transport Commission. Scheduled local flights commences on June 24, 2019 from its Eros-hub under the newly established brand name, FlyWestair.[9][10] In September 2019 the airline revealed plans to commence its first international destination by starting flights from Eros to Cape Town.[11] FlyWestair launched its frequent flyer-programme on 1 February 2020.[12]

Westair Aviation
IATA ICAO Callsign
- WAA WESTAIR WINGS
Founded1967
Windhoek, Namibia
Commenced operations1967
Hubs
Frequent-flyer programFrequent Flyer[1]
Fleet size30
Destinations3[2]
Parent companyPty Ltd.
HeadquartersWindhoek, Namibia
Key peopleHenry van Schalkwyk (Chief Executive Officer)[3]
Employees280 (March 2020)[4]
Websitewestair.com.na
Cessna 310 (U-3-L-27 Blue Canoe), Westair Wings Charters AN1775972

Airline profile

In June 2005 Stimulus Investment Limited, a local Namibian investment company acquired 29% of the total issued ordinary share of Westair Aviation, with the airline's management retaining 71% of the ordinary shares.

Stimulus sold the shares back to Westair management in 2014 and is no longer a shareholder in Westair.[13][14]

Fleet

Westair Aviation's current fleet consist of over 30 aircraft. The aircraft suit relevant operations such as freight-transporting, crew rotations for mining operations and offering VIP charters to The Namibian government.[7] In July 2017 the airline acquired 4 Embraer ERJ-135 regional jets from HOP!, an Air France subsidiary. The average age of these aircraft is 17 years and had been leased by Air Namibia from the French carrier. Westair Aviation then directed Air Namibia henceforth that its leasing payments are to be made to them. Air Namibia's contract with HOP! was reportedly set at NAD35 million Namibian dollars (US$2.68 million) per annum and was to have expired in 2018.[15] Westair Aviation's fleet comprises Beechcraft, Piper and Cessna turboprop aircraft.[16] In November 2015, Westair Aviation acquired an Embraer ERJ-145 from LOT Polish Airlines. Named 'Tatekulu', this twinjet 50-seater was the first addition to the airlines' specialist fleet.[17]In July 2018 Air Namibia wet-leased the Embraer ERJ-145 from Westair Aviation to be utilized on some of its regional routes.[18]

Air operator

Westair Aviation receives regular internal- and external safety- and quality assurance audits and holds both Part 121 and Part 135 Air Operator Certificates, which guarantees the highest level of comfort and safety for passengers and on-time dispatch reliability for the airline.[7]

Proactive implementing of safety standards are maintained by a quality control system through regular internal safety audits; These are managed on a daily basis.[7]

Cargo

The airline operates a variety of scheduled and unscheduled air cargo flights and has been offering a dedicated cargo service to DHL over the past 20 years during which time Westair Aviation has maintained an impressive dispatch reliability record. Through offering dedicated assistance to the cargo industry, Westair Aviation also supports the mining sector in transferring high-value cargo across Africa.[7]

Destinations

As of April 2018, the airline plans to expand its passenger route network to 5 scheduled destinations and 6 airports in two different countries in Southern Africa.[6]. As of April 1 2018, the airline plans to operate the following routes from its Windhoek-Eros hub: Cape Town, Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo, Ondangwa, Oranjemund, Walvis Bay and Windhoek-Hosea Kutako[6]

Following is a list of destinations Westair flies to as part of its scheduled services, as of June 2019:[19]

Codeshare agreements

Westair Aviation codeshares with the following airline:

Country City Airport Refs
NamibiaOndangwaOndangwa Airport[21]
NamibiaOranjemundOranjemund Airport[22]
South AfricaCape TownCape Town[23]

References
  1. https://www.flywestair.com/en
  2. https://www.flywestair.com/
  3. https://allafrica.com/stories/202003260877.html
  4. https://allafrica.com/stories/202003260877.html
  5. "WESTAIR - HOME". westair.com.na. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  6. 2018, UBM (UK) Ltd. "Westair Aviation outlines preliminary scheduled service from April 2018". routesonline.com. Retrieved 8 March 2018.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. "WESTAIR - SPECIALIZED SERVICES". westair.com.na. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  8. https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/westair-aviation-waa
  9. https://prod.ihms.co/assets/files/1560238586113_FlyWestairMediaRelease.pdf
  10. http://www.travelnewsnamibia.com/plan-your-trip/westair-aviation-launches-scheduled-passenger-airline-flywestair/
  11. https://africa.cgtn.com/2019/09/18/namibias-flywestair-launches-first-international-route/
  12. https://www.flywestair.com/FrequentFlyer/FrequentFlyer,
  13. https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=14398&page=archive-read
  14. http://www.n-c-e.org/sponsor/westair-aviation
  15. "Namibia's Westair Aviation acquires four ERJ-135s from HOP!". ch-aviation.com. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  16. https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/westair-aviation-waa
  17. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/41835-namibias-westair-aviation-adds-maiden-embraer-jet
  18. https://www.flyairlink.com/flightschedule
  19. https://prod.ihms.co/assets/files/1560238586113_FlyWestairMediaRelease.pdf
  20. https://www.alternativeairlines.com/flywestair
  21. align=center "flights". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  22. align=center "Westair Aviation launches "FlyWestair" as official Scheduled Passenger Airline" (PDF). Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  23. align=center "Namibia's FlyWestair launches first international route". Retrieved 18 September 2019.
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