Air Namibia has recently signed an agreement with Turkish Airlines in a bid to enhance the profitability of both airlines by increasing passenger and cargo traffic between Turkey and Namibia while improving efficiencies, service standards and operation capacities.

The agreement, which was signed by the Managing Director of Air Namibia, Theo M. Namases and Turkish Airlines’ Chief Investment and Technology officer, Ahmet Bola, is in line with both airlines’ strategies of advancing cooperation between airlines.

“We are pleased to announce that a commercial cooperation agreement has been reached between Turkish Airlines and Air Namibia. By building a bridge between Turkey and Namibia via our Istanbul hub we are also strengthening our presence in the top emerging market economy in the region,” Bolat said.

Turkish Airlines currently operates from two airports in Istanbul with 260 aircrafts and plans to add another 250 to the fleet when it starts operating from a new airport that is currently under construction and will be completed in 2017.

With high achievements over the years – such as “Best Airline in Europe” for three consecutive years, including 2013 – the agreement gives Air Namibia a strategic leverage and a stronger support network.

“This cooperative agreement is in line with our roadmap which will see Air Namibia build a strong business, strengthen our route network, improve commercial agility and service standards, better our already high dispatch reliability, as well as human capital development aspects. Turkish Airlines is a good benchmark for us,” Namases stated.

The deal between the two airlines is expected to increase revenue and improve tourism for Namibia while driving Turkish Airlines’ strategy of flight service expansion in Africa.