WINDHOEK, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's privately-owned domestic and regional airline FlyNamibia will join the independent South African-based airline, Airlink, to promote its flights and services to travel agents worldwide on the Global Distribution System (GDS).
The GDS is a computerized network that is used to facilitate the booking of travel services, such as airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals, and other travel-related services.
Through the GDS, Airlink has global reach and the ability to display and sell its inventory in many markets, and from July 24, FlyNamibia will enjoy the same global access on a franchisee basis, a statement released Thursday said.
"Joining the GDS is a major milestone for our growing airline and it will be a boost for Namibia because it makes our flights, network and schedule visible to customers in parts of the world that, until now, we have been unable to access," FlyNamibia Managing Director Andre Compion said.
According to Compion, this is one of the logical progressions they envisaged when Airlink invested in FlyNamibia last September.
"It will help us strengthen air services within Namibia and support the Namibia Airports Company in positioning Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport, Namibia's largest airport with international connections, as an alternative SADC (Southern African Development Community) region gateway hub," he added.
Last September, Airlink acquired a 40 percent stake in FlyNamibia in an investment that signaled its confidence and faith in Namibia and its bright economic prospects.
"By building connectivity and extending FlyNamibia's reach, we will unlock new markets and efficiencies for Namibia's business, trade, travel, and tourism sectors," explained Airlink Chief Executive Officer Rodger Foster.
Foster meanwhile believed that Namibia's economic expansion is stimulating demand for travel to and from the country.
FlyNamibia recently received its International Air Transport Association's Operational Safety Audit accreditation, confirming its operational processes meet stringent internationally-benchmarked standards. ■