WE JUMP HURDLES

When someone in the company comes forward with a problem, we like to say to each other ‘Don’t put down a hurdle.’ We’ve gotten very good at jumping hurdles.” Captain Simon Neveling says this with a mix of amusement and conviction, the kind that comes from years of experience in an industry where no two days are the same. As General Manager of Operations at FlyNamibia, he’s seen it all – the long hours, the impossible logistics, the regulatory hoops, the moments of triumph, and the ones that keep you up at night. Running a regional airline is a balancing act, and in a country like Namibia, where vast distances and a small population make aviation both a necessity and a challenge, it’s not just about getting from A to B. It’s about making it work against the odds.

Simon never set out to run an airline. His childhood dream was to fly – his first spark of inspiration came as a six-year-old, standing at an airport window, watching pilots in their crisp uniforms walk through the terminal. The military seemed like the obvious path, but when that door closed, he found himself briefly considering medicine before coming back to what had always fascinated him. He became a pilot, earning his wings and working his way up to captain, and found himself – unexpectedly – being offered a management role.

He took it, despite having no idea what it really entailed. Years later, when FlyNamibia was launched, he was there from the start. “It wasn’t something I ever planned,” he admits. “But when the opportunity came, I thought, why not?”

Now, he’s at the centre of an operation that, from the outside to some may seem effortless – passengers see pilots, cabin crew, and sleek aircraft moving seamlessly between destinations. But behind every flight is a team working tirelessly to keep everything running. “It’s like a band,” Simon explains. “Everyone knows the lead singer, but behind them are the people making sure the sound is perfect, the stage is set, the tour goes smoothly. That’s what an airline is like – pilots are just the frontmen.”

FlyNamibia operates with a team that is far smaller than what a major airline would have, and that comes with its own challenges. There’s no room for dead weight; everyone has to be sharp, adaptable, and ready to take on multiple roles. “People are thrown into the deep end here. There’s no way around it,” Simon says. “But what’s amazing is that when you have the right people, they learn to swim immediately.” There’s a certain kind of pressure in an airline where things change by the hour – technical issues, weather disruptions, last-minute adjustments – but for those who thrive in this environment, it’s exhilarating.

Regulations are the backbone of any airline, and FlyNamibia is no exception. Despite being a small carrier, it operates under the same global governing bodies as the world’s biggest airlines. Every move is carefully scrutinised to meet international safety and security standards, and even the smallest change to operations has to be carefully planned and executed. And then, there’s the financial reality – running an airline isn’t cheap. Every new route, every aircraft, every additional service has to be justified, because, at the end of the day, profit margins in the airline industry are razor-thin. “People don’t realise how competitive this space is,” Simon says. “They look at a big airline in South Africa and think, ‘Why don’t you just do what they do?’ But we don’t have the same market, the same infrastructure, or the same population size. Every decision we make has to be strategic.”

That’s why FlyNamibia’s fleet is built around efficiency. The Embraer ERJ-145, their workhorse aircraft, is the perfect fit – fast, fuel-efficient, and well-suited for Namibia’s airports. “If you want the speed and comfort of a jet without the insane costs of a much bigger aircraft, there really is no other option,” Simon explains. “It’s the perfect balance.”

Technology is constantly changing aviation, and while Namibia may not always be at the cutting edge, Simon sees digital transformation as a major focus. Online bookings, customer experience platforms, and seamless reservation systems are evolving rapidly, and FlyNamibia is determined to keep pace. But when it comes to aircraft, the reality is different – new aviation technology is incredibly expensive, and smaller airlines have to be smart about how they invest. “We’re not here to buy the latest and greatest. We’re here to run a sustainable operation.”

Yet, despite all the operational and financial challenges, Simon emphasises that FlyNamibia exists for a greater purpose than making money. “People assume an airline is a big profit-making machine, but in reality, regional airlines like ours operate on margins as low as two to five percent,” he explains. “We’re not here to chase massive profits – we’re here to serve Namibia. We’re here to connect people, to create jobs, to make it easier for businesses to grow, and to support tourism. Every route we operate, every decision we make, has an impact beyond just us. This airline is for Namibia, first and foremost.”

The real heart of the airline is in its people. Simon has been in the industry long enough to know that no system, no fleet, and no strategy can work without the right team. That’s why FlyNamibia fosters a culture where people are given the space to grow, make mistakes, and find their own way of contributing. “You have to let people bring their personality and ideas to the table,” he says. “That’s how we got here.”

Running an airline is unpredictable, often frustrating, and never simple. But it’s also rewarding. “Every day is different. It’s challenging, sure, but when you step back and look at what we’re building – what we’ve already built – it’s incredible.” He pauses for a moment, then adds with a grin, “And we’ve gotten really, really good at jumping hurdles.”