Namibia and Botswana are moving closer to launching a joint airline, with early groundwork already taking shape on the Namibian side.

A company, Namibian Air, has been registered as part of the initial phase, while Air Botswana is still in the process of finalising its model for the shared aviation venture.

The plan follows a 2025 directive from the two countries' presidents, encouraging collaboration in the aviation sector.

In an interview with NBC News, Namibia's Transport Minister, Veikko Nekundi, said the joint approach is designed to combine resources and create a more competitive airline.

Ethiopian Airlines is being considered as a key strategic partner, bringing experience from one of Africa's most successful aviation operations.

Cabinet has already approved engagement with the airline, and discussions are underway, including a review of a feasibility study submitted by Namibia.

"We have submitted our feasibility study to them, and they are reviewing it. And within the next week or two weeks, they will give us feedback on that. If they need to amend to enrich it, they will do that for us to have a coherent understanding of how we will move forward."

The proposed rollout will begin with domestic routes, allowing the joint airline to stabilise operations before expanding to regional and international markets.

Officials from both countries are also exploring the development of a shared hub between Namibia and Botswana, which would connect to Ethiopian Airlines' global network through code-sharing. 

"If we expand to the African or international segment, how will we fit into that structure? Which one will be the hub? Assume you say Harare, or we assume it says Windhoek, whichever one fits it. So this modern aircraft will then fit into that hub, the joint hub in Namibia and Botswana. This hub will then fit our code-sharing partner, Ethiopian Airlines. They are big. If they are landing in Windhoek, the narrow-body will then bring them into the hub. And with our partner, it will then fit Brazil, fit Canada, fit Germany, fit China, and fit Moscow. That is really how we are creating, envisaging creating this model to work successfully."

If all goes according to plan, the first flights could take off as early as December this year.

Nekundi also hinted at the possibility of a name change to reflect the partnership between the two countries; however, this would be determined by the refined models.