WINDHOEK, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Air Namibia workers held a prayer session Monday seeking divine help with the financial crisis the airline is facing.
In a statement written by Air Namibia acting managing director Mandy Samson, all workers who were not on duty were asked to attend the prayer session at the airline's Windhoek offices.
"We are all aware of the challenges currently facing the National Carrier of the Republic of Namibia, and it will indeed be appreciated if we can join in prayer and through our common faith believe that Air Namibia which has existed in various forms for very many years will continue its operations," Samson wrote.
The state-owned airline has not made a profit in many years and relies on bailouts from the government.
The government has bailed out Air Namibia to the tune of 4 billion Namibian dollars (334 million U.S. dollars) in the last seven years.
The prayer session came a few days after President Hage Geingob warned the airline management to shape up or ship out.
In an interview with the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) on Jan. 30, 2018, Geingob said it was becoming unsustainable to bail out and protect the airline in a sector that has grown so competitive.
Currently, Air Namibia is competing against Qatar Airways, Ethiopian Airways, South African Airways, KLM, Condor Flugdienst, Eurowings, British Airways and TAAG Angola Airlines.
Air Namibia could face stiffer competition if the government ratifies the African Union's Single Air Transport Market (SAATM) launched in January 2018 in Addis Ababa as part of the Yamoussoukro Decision of 1999.
The SAATM is expected to enhance connectivity between African nations without stopovers somewhere in Europe or the Middle East as well as low flight ticket prices.
On Feb. 1, 2018, Namibia's Deputy Permanent Secretary of Works and Transport, Cedric Limbo told NBC that consultations were being held to prepare Namibia to join the African Union's Single Air Transport Market.
