Page 23 - World Airnews Magazine December 2020

CHARTER CHARTER

WESTAIR TRANSPORTS LEADERS IN JET CHARTER

UNWTO IN NAMIBIA

ne of Africa's leading on-demand transport operators
OAlfa Air used the Covid-19 pandemic to their own

Windhoek based aviation solutions company, advantage taking the time to complete work that they were not

AWestair aviati on helped to provide the air able to do during normal circumstances.
transport needed to facilitate the first visit by secretary- Based in Casablanca, Morocco CEO and founder Chakib Lahri-

general of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) to chi said, “ We got through the four-month lockdown by doing

an African member state since the start of the COVID-19 work on our planes. We repainted and we redesigned. We refur-

bished our fleet and we updated our maintenance.”
pandemic. As a result of this, the company did not have to let go staff and

The three-day official visit to Namibia reaffirmed UNW- were able to maintain their team.

TO’s commitment to the continent and featured a series of

high-level talks aimed at strengthening existing partner- “Now we are resuming our activity and we are recruiting pilots
ships and looking to a sustainable, resilient future. and mechanics,” said Lahrichi.

As the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, UN- Alfa Air offers private charter flights and its fleet consists of

WTO has guided the sector’s recovery and restart from this Falcon 10, Falcon 20 and Jetstream 32. The company offers

unprecedented crisis. It has worked directly with its African business aviation and medical evacuations in Europe, Africa and
member states, including Namibia, to adapt the 2030 Agen- the Middle East.
da for Africa: Tourism for Inclusive Growth, a roadmap for “We operate to and from Morocco. This country, has a vibrant

the responsible growth of tourism across the continent. tourism industry and offers several advantages such as the sea,

The visit was the first chance to follow up on virtual meet- the mountains, the desert. There is ecological tourism, medical
ings and advance the preparations for the restart of a sector tourism, business tourism - all kinds of packages - something for

upon which millions of African livelihoods depend. everyone who wants to visit this beautiful country.”

Westair Aviation flew secretary-general Zurab Polo- He said while it has been a struggle to continue to exist the

likashvili (UNWTO) from Windhoek to Sossusvlei for one company is supported by a strong management team.

night. Thereafter they flew to Swakopmund for a second “We have been around for 13 years. We started with one plane
night and returned the next morning back to Windhoek. and now we have four in full ownership. Step by step we have

“Between Sossusvlei and Swakopmund we did a beau- continued and our strength lies in our wisdom,” he said. Q

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 NO MATTER WHAT MAKE,
colonies with a collection of more than 200 000 seals,” said

a spokesperson from the company. MODEL OR SIZE.
Pololikashvili met with the president Hage G. Geingob

to talk about realising the potential of tourism to drive Insure now with
sustainable development, including youth, women and DJA Aviation.

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
DJA Aviation is the longest-established aviation insurance
an experienced and highly qualified co-ordinator. broking specialist in the South African insurance market and a

workforce of aircraft engineers and “When the tourism and airline sectors market leader in developing customised insurance products for

reative thinking from employees pilots keep the doors open. fell away we gained business in other the aviation industry. We employ more than 30 staff and utilise

Cinto areas not explored, assisted Westair Aviation operates in Mali, sectors like repatriation flights, oil and this great depth of aviation insurance knowledge, skill and

Namibia based Westair Aviation to Ethiopia, Angola, Senegal, Guinee, gas mining and film crew“ he said. expertise to manage our clients’ aviation insurance portfolios.
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), PROUD SUPPORTER OF

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

THE SOUTH AFRICAN

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 Defining the Right Approach to Aviation Insurance

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 www.dja-aviation.co.za | Tel: 0800 FLYING

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 An Authorised Financial Service Provider FSP No. 15808
World Airnews | December 2020 World Airnews | December 2020
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