Air Namibia has suspended its operations on the Windhoek – Lagos – Accra route following an ongoing diplomatic impasse between Namibia and Nigeria. This will be the second time the airline is suspending its operations after its first exit in 2014. Speaking to JoyBusiness the Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana Charles Josob explained the ongoing impasse hugely affected passenger numbers hence the decision to suspend operations. “The numbers did not add up and the load factors did not come up from March. This was largely due to a third party influence where the ambassador refused to issue visas to Namibians going to Nigeria and this affected passenger numbers causing the airline to run at a loss,” he said. According to the High commissioner although the airline had been operating at 50 per cent for a while, the development caused a breakdown in operations. The first time the Airline exited the Ghanaian market was in 2014 due to the absence of a visa-issuing office in Ghana which led to a decline in passenger volumes. However, in February 2018, the airline made a return with a Windhoek – Lagos – Accra route having set up a consulate office in Accra. But barely a year since its return the Airline has announced yet another suspension of its operations due to the ongoing diplomatic feud between Namibia and Nigeria. The Commissioner however noted, they will be considering alternative solutions to have the airline back. He noted one option included getting first freedom right for Windhoek-Accra-London route. Responding to the issue, the Minister for Aviation Kofi Adda stated his office may grant Air Namibia the fifth freedom rights after careful consideration.