Westair Aviation (Namibia)

Westair Aviation

IATA ICAO Callsign WAA - WESTAIR WINGS
Founded	1967 Windhoek, Namibia
Commenced operations	1967
Hubs	Windhoek-Eros
Fleet size	30
Company slogan	The Standard In Aviation[1]
Parent company	Pty Ltd.
Headquarters	Windhoek, Namibia
Key people	Wolfgang Grellmann (Chairman)
Website	westair.com.na

Cessna 310 (U-3-L-27 Blue Canoe), Westair Wings Charters AN1775972

Westair Aviation Limited is a registered airline of Namibia and offers scheduled passenger and cargo services. ^[2][3] 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 .^[4] 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.^[5]

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. The transaction was to confirm Westair Aviation to be the leader of Namibia's aircraft maintenance organisations, capable of being an excellent service provider to the commercial as well as private aviation industry in Namibia.^[6][7]

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.^[4] 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 (USD2.68 million) per annum and was to have expired in 2018.^[8] Westair Aviation's fleet comprises Beechcraft, Piper and Cessna turboprop aircraft.^[9] 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.^[10]In July 2018 Air Namibia wetleased the Embraer ERJ-145 from Westair Aviation to be ulitlized on some of it's regional routes.^[11]

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.^[4]

Proactive implementing of safety standards are maintained by a quality control system through regular internal safety audits; These are managed on a daily basis.^[4]

Cargo

The airline operates a variety of scheduled and unscheduled air cargo solutions 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.^[4]

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.^[3]. As of April 1 2018, the airline plans to operate the following routes from its Windhoek-Eros hub: Cape Town, Johannesburg-O.R. Tambo, Oranjemund, Walvis Bay and Windhoek-Hosea Kutako^[3]

References