Page 22 - World Airnews Magazine December 2020

CHARTER

WESTAIR TRANSPORTS

UNWTO IN NAMIBIA

Windhoek based aviation solutions company,

AWestair aviati on helped to provide the air
transport needed to facilitate the first visit by secretary-

general of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to

an African member state since the start of the COVID-19
pandemic.

The three-day official visit to Namibia reaffirmed UNW-

TO’s commitment to the continent and featured a series of
high-level talks aimed at strengthening existing partner-

ships and looking to a sustainable, resilient future.
As the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, UN-

WTO has guided the sector’s recovery and restart from this
unprecedented crisis. It has worked directly with its African
member states, including Namibia, to adapt the 2030 Agen-
da for Africa: Tourism for Inclusive Growth, a roadmap for

the responsible growth of tourism across the continent.

The visit was the first chance to follow up on virtual meet-

ings and advance the preparations for the restart of a sector
upon which millions of African livelihoods depend.

Westair Aviation flew secretary-general Zurab Polo-

likashvili (UNWTO) from Windhoek to Sossusvlei for one

night. Thereafter they flew to Swakopmund for a second
night and returned the next morning back to Windhoek.
“Between Sossusvlei and Swakopmund we did a beau-

tiful scenic flight above the Namib Desert, along the Skel-
eton Coast past 100 year old diamond camps, a German
Shipwreck from 1907, an UK shipwreck from 1976, seal

colonies with a collection of more than 200 000 seals,” said
a spokesperson from the company.
Pololikashvili met with the president Hage G. Geingob
to talk about realising the potential of tourism to drive

sustainable development, including youth, women and
rural communities.

He commended the head of state for his leadership,

particularly with regards to the international tourism

revival initiative which includes the key health and safety

protocols drawn up by UNWTO. Q
WESTAIR WEATHERS COVID

an experienced and highly qualified co-ordinator.

workforce of aircraft engineers and “When the tourism and airline sectors
reative thinking from employees pilots keep the doors open. fell away we gained business in other

Cinto areas not explored, assisted Westair Aviation operates in Mali, sectors like repatriation flights, oil and

Namibia based Westair Aviation to Ethiopia, Angola, Senegal, Guinee, gas mining and film crew“ he said.

weather the Covid-19 pandemic. South Africa and Mozambique and the Westair provides a range of services

Based at Eros Airport, Windhoek company specialises in turn-key aviation including aircraft asset and operational

- Westair Aviation opened its doors services that comply with standards management, leasing, offshore

in 1967 as an aircraft maintenance required by the mining and oil and gas operations: fixed wing and rotary wing,

organisation and has grown over the sectors. maritime patrol and oil spillage, ACMI

past 50 years to become the most “Business dropped a lot unfortunately contract operations (BARS & IOGP),

experienced private aviation company in but it also created new opportunities VIP charters, cargo flights, scheduled

Namibia. with repatriation flights and other passenger and freight operations,

Operating a fleet of more than 44 international flights between southern charters and fly-in-safaris, geophysical

aircraft, the company is able to provide and western Africa and also Europe. survey flying, emergency medical

a solution for almost any mission. We are happy to say that tourism is evacuation flights / air ambulance

More than 100 employees, including picking up again and we’re positive for services flight training and aircraft
the future,” said Marco Theron, charter maintenance and refurbishment. Q
World Airnews | December 2020
— 20 —