Staff Reporter
CONNECTIVITY disruptions that affected meteorological services at Walvis Bay International Airport have now been fully restored, following a temporary reclassification of the airport’s airspace from Class C to Class G, which has raised concerns over aviation safety and operational reliability.
In a statement issued today (17 September 2026), the Ministry said that meteorological services at the airport had been fully restored following connectivity disruptions that had affected services since Friday, 11 September.
The disruption resulted in some scheduled flights being diverted to Hosea Kutako International Airport because current weather observations were unavailable.
The Ministry apologised for the inconvenience caused to affected passengers and stakeholders.
According to the Ministry, the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) informing airspace users of the temporary unavailability of the affected meteorological services.
As a precautionary operational measure, the NCAA temporarily reclassified the Walvis Bay airspace from Class C to Class G, in accordance with applicable International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Namibian civil aviation regulations and procedures.
The Ministry said the measure was intended to facilitate the continued safe conduct of flight operations while the weather services were being restored and emphasised that Walvis Bay International Airport remained operational throughout the disruption.
The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), however, has raised concerns over the downgrade, describing it as a major operational setback for Namibia’s aviation sector.
The party said the reclassification to Class G, or uncontrolled airspace, could reduce operational capability, particularly during periods of coastal fog and poor visibility.
The concerns follow a question raised in the National Assembly on 15 September by the Shadow Minister of Works and Transport regarding delays and inaccuracies in Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAFs).
The Ministry said steps were being taken to strengthen the reliability and continuity of meteorological services and reduce the impact of similar disruptions in future, particularly services supporting aviation and public safety.
It thanked stakeholders who assisted in restoring the affected services and said it remained committed to providing reliable and continuous meteorological services to airspace users.
Photo: Parliament of the Republic of Namibia
