Surprising news for Namibia vacationers: Swiss airline Edelweiss is increasing the number of its planned non-stop flights to Namibia. Starting in mid-July 2026, it will fly three times a week from Zurich to Windhoek, the Lufthansa subsidiary announced.
Last year, Edelweiss had already informed about its new route to Namibia with two connections per week for its 2026 summer schedule. These flights will be offered from 1 June to the end of October, e.g. during peak season (see report on Namibian.org).
Now the leisure airline is upping the ante: "In addition to the existing Monday and Friday services, an extra flight will be operated on Wednesdays." This third non-stop service between Zurich and Windhoek will start on 15 July (see news on the website of Edelweiss).
The announcement is also surprising because, in light of surging fuel costs due to the Iran crisis, airlines worldwide are reducing their services. The parent company Lufthansa cancelled 20,000 flights until October – if only mostly domestic flights (see BBC report).
Edelweiss, in its announcement, speaks of "capacity freed up by adjustments to its route network." The airline was using this capacity specifically to expand its services, "thus strengthening destinations with particularly high demand".
Namibia is undoubtedly one of these destinations. The land of endless horizons is also one of the most successful destinations in the route portfolio of Discover Airlines. Edelweiss's German sister airline currently offers ten connections per week: seven from Frankfurt and three from Munich to Windhoek.
Edelweiss has been heavily promoting its new route. For months, attractive banners in high-traffic locations in Zurich have been advertising the Namibia flights. In February, a trip including a self-drive tour was also held for Swiss journalists and influencers (see report by Namibian.org).
With Edelweiss's three new routes, the number of nonstop flights from Europe to Namibia during peak season increases to 13 per week. Ethiopian Airlines also offers seven flights a week with a stopover in Addis Ababa. Namibia can also be easily reached via Johannesburg, Cape Town and Luanda.
From 1 June to the end of October 2026, Edelweiss will also fly directly from Zurich to Windhoek. Photo: Edelweiss