Namibia Airports Company CEO and Air Connect Namibia Chairman, Bisey /Uirab proudly welcomes the announcement by Edelweiss to increase its upcoming non-stop service between Zurich Airport (ZRH) and Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) from two to three weekly flights from 15 July 2026.

Frequencies for Edelweiss’ upcoming route introduction, on its Airbus A350-900, will be implemented as follows:

• From Monday, 01 June 2026: 2x weekly frequencies
• From Wednesday, 15 July 2026: 3x weekly frequencies

The additional third weekly frequency is currently planned for Edelweiss’ first season of operation on the Zürich–Windhoek route.

In 2023, Namibia’s airports served 10 international destinations. By mid-2026, that number is expected to increase to 17 destinations via direct or non-stop services, indicating that Namibia is close to doubling international connectivity within a three-year period.

Between 2023 and the estimated 2026 period, Namibia:

• Added the most connections to international cities (leading performer in Southern Africa) ¹
• Achieved the largest capacity growth (18%) among Southern African countries without a designated national airline

¹Connections that are expected to be operational by end-2026, based on OAG data.

The Edelweiss expansion represents another significant milestone for Namibia’s international connectivity and reinforces the country’s growing appeal as a premier tourism and investment destination in Southern Africa. The increased frequency will provide travellers from Switzerland and surrounding European markets with greater flexibility, improved seat availability and more convenient itinerary options when travelling to Namibia, particularly during our July-October tourism season. The increase will also support increased inbound tourism to Namibia’s iconic destinations - including Etosha National Park, Sossusvlei, Swakopmund, the Skeleton Coast and other high-value tourism regions across the country.

“The Edelweiss announcement is a strong vote of confidence in both our country and the long-term potential of the Zürich–Windhoek service.” said /Uirab. “We are delighted to welcome Edelweiss’ initial decision to serve Windhoek. The airline’s decision to add an additional frequency demonstrates what we as a country can achieve through constructive collaboration with our project stakeholders and the broader community. This expansion strengthens Namibia’s position as a globally connected destination and supports our shared mandate of growing air access and our economy in a sustainable and impactful way.”

Switzerland remained one of Namibia’s most important European source markets in 2025, ranking as the country’s fifth-largest with an estimated 24 200 two-way international origin-destination passengers. Passenger volumes had already increased 9% in 2025 when compared to 2024 - underscoring the growing demand for travel between the two countries.

With the addition of a third weekly frequency, the Lufthansa Group – through Edelweiss and Discover Airlines - will operate 13 direct weekly flights between its European gateways and Windhoek. The Group will contribute more than 152 000 annual seats, further strengthening Namibia’s position as a key access point to European markets.

Air Connect Namibia continues to work with existing and prospective carriers to improve Namibia’s international route network, support tourism growth, facilitate trade and investment to strengthen the country’s competitiveness as a connected Southern African gateway.

About Air Connect Namibia: Air Connect Namibia, established in 2024 and led by the Namibia Airports Company (NAC), is a collaborative air service development initiative mandated to improve air access to the country. Project stakeholders include the Namibian Airports Company (NAC), Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), Gondwana Collection, Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), Walvis Bay Corridor Group and the City of Windhoek. The initiative is committed to assisting and supporting carriers who service the country’s international airports.