Government’s drive to put a Namibian flag carrier back in the skies achieved a critical breakthrough last week, following the official issuance of dual air service licences to the proposed state airline, Namibia Air. The Transportation Commission of Namibia formally handed over both scheduled and unscheduled air service licences to the Ministry of Works and Transport after completing required statutory reviews, which drew zero public objections during the gazetting process. Receiving the licences on behalf of Namibia Air, Interim Board Chairperson Jonas Sheelongo hailed the achievement as the culmination of months of planning and collaborative effort. Sheelongo further noted that the immediate next step is to secure an Air Operator Certificate, which is essential before the airline can commence commercial operations. The development comes five years after the liquidation of national airline Air Namibia, which ceased operations in 2021 following years of debt and reliance on state bailouts.