AIR NAMIBIA is facing
complaints at the
Competition Commissions of
Namibia and South Africa for
predatory pricing on some of
its routes.
The airline is accused
of undercutting prices and
sacrificing short-term profit in
a bid to curb competition and
maintain the monopoly on
certain routes.
Corporate communications
manager of Air Namibia,
Paul Nakawa, told
TNW a complaint had
been lodged with the
Competition Commissions
of both countries. “SA Airlink
contends that Air Namibia is
engaging in predatory pricing
on the Windhoek-Cape Town
route.” Both Commissions
were currently investigating
whether this was the case,
Paul said.
He said the airline was
being assisted by lawyers
to dispute the complaints.
“We remain confident of
successfully opposing the
claim,” said Paul.
The loss-making Namibian
state-owned carrier recently
won approval to fly to the US.
Paul says the airline
will use the traffic rights
in conjunction with its
codeshare partners. “We are
not immediately considering
any direct operations,” he
said.
More regional routes are
also on the cards for Air
Namibia, although Paul could
not confirm which routes
these were. “Air Namibia
is constantly performing
route analysis and looking
for opportunities to expand
our routes,” Paul told TNW.
Several options were being
considered, but the current
economic situation would
dictate when and which
routes would be announced
he added.
Air Namibia hit with ‘predatory pricing’ complaint
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