At least 80 000 passengers used Namibian airports in the month of December, statistic provided by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) have revealed, highlighting that Hosea Kutako International Airport (75%) accounted for a greater chuck of these numbers.
These numbers consist of regional, international, and domestic arrivals and departures of passengers at airports.
Numbers registered in November were however greater at 93 423 although corresponding numbers for December 2022 fell far short at 66437.
Tourism and travel in general have bounced back since Covid-19.
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) recently announced that it recorded a profit of N$19 million in the 2022/2023 financial year, this after having endured losses of in excess of N$93 million in the 2022 financial year.
EROS
For the month of December 2023, Arrivals Index for Eros Airport declined by 18.7 percent on a monthly basis, in contrast to an increase of 2.6 percent posted a month earlier. On the other hand, the index grew by 17.1 percent year-on- year. The number of passengers that arrived in December 2023 via Eros airport terminals decreased to 2 963 passengers from 3 644 passengers that were registered in the preceding month, while 2 531 passengers were recorded in the corresponding period of 2022.
The Index of Departures for Eros Airport in December 2023 declined on monthly basis by 16.7 percent as opposed to a growth of 4.1 percent that was recorded in the previous month. Conversely, the index increased by 22.1 percent over the year. The number of passengers that departed through Eros Airport terminals during December 2023 decreased to 3 181 passengers from 3 819 passengers witnessed a month earlier. While 2 605 movement passengers were registered in the corresponding month of 2022.
HKIA
The Arrivals Index for Hosea Kutako Airport in December 2023 declined on a monthly basis by 9.1 percent compared to a reduction of 15.3 percent recorded in the preceding month. On the other hand, the index registered an increase of 23.4 percent year-on-year. For December 2023, the number of passengers that arrived via Hosea Kutako Airport terminals amounted to 32 142 passengers, as opposed to 35 347 passengers recorded in the previous month, while 26 045 passengers were recorded in the corresponding month of 2022.
“The Departures Index for Hosea Kutako Airport in December 2023 declined by 17.6 percent on a monthly basis, compared to a decrease of 6.2 percent registered in the preceding month. Conversely, the index increased by 21.6 percent over the year. In absolute terms, during December 2023 the number of passengers that departed through Hosea Kutako airport terminals decreased to 30 275 passengers from 36 739 passengers recorded in November 2023, while 24 900 passengers were recorded in the corresponding month of 2022.
WALVISBAY
The Arrivals Index for Walvis Bay Airport on a monthly basis grew by 33.6 percent in December 2023, compared to a growth of 26.9 percent that was recorded in the previous month. Additionally, the index increased by 38.8 percent year-on-year. In absolute terms, the number of passengers that arrived via Walvis Bay airport increased to 5 326 passengers from 3 988 passengers and 3 837 passengers witnessed in the preceding and in the corresponding month of 2022, respectively.
“The Departures Index for Walvis Bay Airport in December 2023 slowed on a monthly basis, recording an increase of 16.5 percent compared to a growth of 18.4 percent noted in November 2023. Moreover, the index grew by 34.5 percent year-on-year. The number of passengers that departed via Walvis Bay airport increased to 4 849 passengers in December 2023 from 4 161 passengers and 3 604 passengers noted a month earlier and in the corresponding period of 2022, respectively.”
Business Express recently reported that NAC is committed to improve its airport infrastructure to support the country’s national development initiatives and harness the natural resources brought about by the recent oil and gas discovery together with the Green Hydrogen initiatives.
The envisaged airport infrastructure developments include among others: The Hosea Kutako International Airport congestion alleviation project to extend the VIP/VVIP facilities at the cost of N$18 million; the Apron expansion at Hosea Kutako International Airport at a cost of N$100 million, funded by Government over a two-year period; the construction of Terminal 3 at Hosea Kutako International Airport, with discussions ongoing with government to determine the optimal financing structure for the project and the finalisation of the transfer of land to NAC for the construction of new terminal buildings at Katima Mulilo, Rundu and Lüderitz Airports.
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