Namibian national airline Air Namibia announced that it has resumed its flight operations to Harare and Victoria Falls on Sunday, 28 October 2018.
The days of operation remain unchanged. Windhoek to Harare is operated on: Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, whereas the Windhoek – Victoria Falls route is operated on: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The flights to Livingstone will operate until Saturday, 27 October 2018.
This announcement follows a Zimbabwe High Court judgement granting the lifting of the attachment of Air Namibia property or aircraft in Zimbabwe in the ongoing case between the Air Namibia and a Zimbabwean family.
The matter emanates from five applicants, Zimbabwean nationals, who brought action against Air Namibia on 14 March 2018, claiming an amount of USD 1 million. The legal action was based on an application to court for the attachment of Air Namibia property in order to found, or confirm, the jurisdiction of the High court of Zimbabwe over Air Namibia in order to have the matter heard in court. They were to travel to Turkey and Air Namibia denied them boarding for travelling through Germany on advice received from the German Border police.
On 27 June 2018, the High Court of Zimbabwe made an Ex Parte order for the attachment of Air Namibia property or aircraft in Zimbabwe without notifying the parties. An attempt of attachment took place on 5 October 2018, which was successfully avoided by Air Namibia, specifically on the basis of the fact that the aircraft in terms of which the attachment was to take place did not belong to Air Namibia.
As a result of the foregoing, Air Namibia at the time suspended its flights to Harare and Victoria Falls on 8 October 2018 pending the matter being addressed. The airline diverted its flights between Hosea Kutako International Airport and Victoria Falls to Livingstone, Zambia, for the period 6 October 2018 to 27 October 2018.
Air Namibia subsequently obtained alternative legal counsel who arranged for the matter to be heard by the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe. An application to this effect was heard on 23 October 2018 in which Air Namibia was granted an extension of time in which to file an appeal and condonation was equally granted to Air Namibia to file its opposing papers by the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe.
The Supreme Court made the order with costs against the passengers who were denied boarding. The order has the effect of staying (undoing) the previous Ex Parte order which facilitated the attachment of the Air Namibia aircraft.
“We are confident that this matter will come to a conclusion soon and trust that Air Namibia can count on your continued support, as we continue to offer the most professional and pleasant experience for our passengers.” the airline said in a statement.