Photo by: Airlink
South African regional airline Airlink has announced that, with immediate effect, it has had to temporarily suspend its air cargo (but not passenger) operations at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport. This is because the new ground handling and cargo service provider appointed for the airport does not yet have all its required aviation security, dangerous goods handling, and other cargo handling, approvals, certifications and protocols in place.
“If Airlink continues providing a cargo service at Windhoek without these, the integrity of its operations and international aviation safety and security will be compromised,” said the airline in its statement. “In the meantime, Airlink passenger services to Windhoek are continuing.”
The airline assured that it was willing to work with the airport’s new service provider, Paragon. Indeed, since Saturday, Airlink had sent additional personnel from South Africa to Windhoek to help Paragon with the processing of passengers.
The airline operates up to four return flights a day between Johannesburg and Windhoek, and up to three more between Cape Town and Windhoek. The current shortage of ground handling equipment at Windhoek was causing delays to flights. However, wherever possible, the airline was making up for the lost time, to minimise the inconvenience to its passengers.
“Airlink apologises to its customers for the inconvenience and disruption this temporary measure is causing to their businesses,” stated the airline. It directed those affected to consult the Airlink Cargo customer care centre.