Flying to Namibia

General Information

Namibia has very limited direct air connections, serving only regional countries and Germany. In all cases, flights are relatively expensive and long for most visitors. Additionally, while the country has dozens of airfields, it has few airports with regular services and only two with international status.

Logically, the capital handles the most traffic with Hosea Kutako International Airport and its 800,000 annual passengers (795,000 in 2014). It also serves as the base for the national carrier, Air Namibia. Walvis Bay, with 85,000 passengers (2014) and three routes (Windhoek, Cape Town, Johannesburg), is the country’s second international airport. Windhoek Eros Airport (145,000 passengers/year) specializes in small local charters and flights organized for safaris departing from the capital.

Types of Flights

Local Airlines

Excluding small charter or on-demand companies (particularly for safaris), Namibia has only its national carrier, Air Namibia, and the new low-cost airline, Namibia FlyAfrica, a subsidiary of the FlyAfrica group well-established in Southern Africa.

As the national carrier, Air Namibia operates a small domestic network covering around half a dozen cities in the country, plus several in the region (including South Africa), as well as a Windhoek-Frankfurt flight, the only direct air link between Namibia and Europe. Namibia FlyAfrica launched in 2015 with two or three low-cost routes, including Windhoek-Johannesburg for less than 50 € one way.

Charters, Scheduled, and Low-Cost Flights

Passenger traffic in Namibia is not particularly high and has traditionally been served by scheduled airlines, though the arrival of FlyAfrica may signal future growth in low-cost options. Additionally, there is significant on-demand domestic traffic, particularly for safaris or access to lodges near tourist sites.

Promotions and Special Offers

Apart from FlyAfrica’s low-cost fares, promotions for Namibia are not unique to the destination but rather part of broader airline network offers that include the country.

From France and Europe

There is only one direct scheduled flight between Namibia and Europe: Frankfurt-Windhoek, operated by Air Namibia or Condor. This means that from France or elsewhere, travelers must transit at least through Germany or Southern Africa, primarily South Africa, before arriving. In total, expect at least 14 hours of travel (though many routes exceed 20 hours) for a round-trip fare of 760/1,100 € from Paris.

From Neighboring Countries

Apart from Frankfurt and domestic routes, all air traffic to and from Namibia is concentrated in the region, primarily South Africa.

South Africa: Johannesburg (Air Namibia, Comair, FlyAfrica, and SAA from Windhoek; Air Namibia and SAA from Walvis Bay), Cape Town (Air Namibia and Airlink from Windhoek; Air Namibia and SAA from Walvis Bay)

Angola: Luanda (Air Namibia and TAAG from Windhoek)

Botswana: Maun (Air Namibia from Windhoek)

Zambia: Lusaka (Air Namibia and FlyAfrica from Windhoek)

Zimbabwe: Harare and Victoria Falls (Air Namibia from Windhoek)