Some have sold homes as they struggle without income
VERIPUAMI KANGUMINE
Former Air Namibia employees who lost their jobs when the national airline collapsed in 2021 are pinning their hopes on Namibia Air.
But with the new airline expected to start with only 220 employees, hundreds of former workers could be left out.
Speaking to Namibia Business Review this week, former senior cabin attendant Ann Jantjies, 55, said she has already sold her house after five years without a salary.
She now lives with her daughter and hopes to return to the cabin crew if Namibia Air starts recruiting.
Jantjies joined Air Namibia as an air hostess in 1990, aged 19. She spent more than three decades working for the airline before it was liquidated.
She said news of Namibia Air has given her a glimmer of hope.
“I have sold my house already and now I live with my daughter. I have started baking but it’s not enough to keep a roof over my head,” she said.
Jantjies said she has spent the past five years applying for jobs without success.
She even applied for cleaning jobs but was rejected because of her age.
“I have applied to many jobs, even cleaning jobs but I have not been able to get a job. They told me I’m too old, 55 years old,” she said.
She said cabin crew skills are difficult to transfer to other industries.
Jantjies said former employees were told by the liquidators that they would receive preferential consideration if a new airline was established.
But five years later, she said they are still waiting for clarity from the Ministry of Works and Transport.
“We are still in the dark, if they are going to hire us or not. We are sitting with letters from the liquidators that they have to consider us first for those jobs,” she said.
ONLY 220 JOBS
The planned Namibia Air will start with about 220 employees, according to works and transport ministry spokesperson Tangi Shivute.
That is less than a third of the approximately 750 employees Air Namibia had before its liquidation.
Air Namibia was shut down in 2021 after years of financial problems. Over the two decades before its closure, it had swallowed N$11 billion in government bailouts.
By the time it was liquidated, Air Namibia had accumulated about N$3 billion in debt against assets of N$931 million.
The airline had never generated a profit, with 15 of its 19 routes consistently loss-making.
Shivute said Namibia Air’s planned workforce will include pilots, flight attendants, cabin crew, technical staff and management.
“As per the current plan, Namibia Air is expected to commence operations with approximately 220 employees, including flight operations personnel, technical staff and management,” she said.
Namibia Air was granted its Air Operations License earlier this month. It still needs an Air Operations Certificate before it can purchase aircraft and recruit staff for its planned operations.
Shivute said the ministry has not formally engaged former Air Namibia employees about their employment concerns or possible opportunities with Namibia Air.
However, she said their aviation experience and qualifications could be an advantage.
Shivute said former employees may be considered during the recruitment process where appropriate, but they would still have to meet the airline’s requirements.
“This approach could help retain valuable aviation expertise within Namibia and support the efficient commencement of operation,” she said.
Economist Klaus Schade previously warned that Namibia has a small pool of domestic expertise to operate commercial airlines.
He said many Namibian pilots had taken jobs abroad following Air Namibia’s liquidation.
“They might not be readily available for new opportunities in Namibia. Hence, the airline might need to employ pilots from abroad,” he said.
The government plans to commence Namibia Air’s operations by the end of 2026, once all regulatory and operational requirements have been met.
Shivute said the first phase will focus on domestic routes.
“As part of Phase One of the operational plan, Namibia Air will initially confine its operations to domestic routes. The domestic operations will utilise aircraft acquired with the assistance of the Government,” she said.
‘WE HAVE TO SELL OUR HOMES’
Former Air Namibia employees’ spokesperson Renier Bougard said workers are struggling to survive while waiting for their severance packages.
He said some employees are considering selling their homes to stay afloat.
“We have to now sell our homes, because even when our pension payment comes in we have to repay our debts and loan,” he said.
Bougard said the employees have repeatedly called for a meeting with the Ministry of Works and Transport to discuss their future.
“We are 600 employees who have lost our jobs and there is no communication. We are calling for a memorandum of understanding or a long term plan regarding us with the government,” he said.
He said even the expected severance package of N$130 000 would not be enough after tax and debt repayments.
“Even when the N$ 130 000 comes. We have to pay tax and at the end of that it’s not enough. When we have spent five years with no income,” he said.
NO GUARANTEE
Corporate governance expert Ntelamo Ntelamo said Namibia Air has no obligation to employ former Air Namibia workers.
“The government is not responsible for them. Yes, Air Namibia failed and they lost their jobs and they may have aviation experience but I don’t know if they deserve employment in the new airline,” he said.
Ntelamo said Namibia Air’s operating model remains unknown and could differ from that of Air Namibia.
He said positions should be openly advertised and filled on merit.
He argued that aviation professionals from other airlines should also have an opportunity to apply.
“There are exceptional people out there who are also working for a different airline and want to work for Namibia Air,” he said.
Labour expert Herbert Jauch said the former employees’ demand for preferential treatment is understandable.
He said their job losses were largely the result of management decisions rather than poor individual performance.
“It is not surprising that the former Air Namibia staff members expect preferential treatment if the new airline is established. They lost their jobs not because of their own poor performance but largely because of poor management decisions,” he said.
Jauch said their experience in the aviation industry and continued unemployment could explain why they are seeking priority.
“Former staff have airline experience and many are still unemployed which is why they expect preferential treatment now,” he said.
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