Windhoek Airport

Not Verified | It’s clean, staff are pleasant enough but the seating is awful. There are only two bars/restaurants - both of which are packed all day. The lounges have been “closed for refurbishment” for months with no sign of opening. Nobody seemed to know why. Awful place to spend 2-3 hours when we’re back we will go to Walvis Bay!

✅ Trip Verified | Staff are extremely rude. Airport staff also confiscated a normal lighter which is allowed on your person, and instructed me to place it in my check-in baggage. Airport has a monopoly on shuttle services with price fixing. They banned all taxis and have a full monopoly, overcharging for a 45km trip. A trip that would normally cost R90/N$90/US$6, costs R380/N$380/US$25. Total ripoff and not African prices, especially for locals like myself.

✅ Trip Verified | Check your Covid test proof requirements carefully to void this chaos. I entered Windhoek Airport on 10th Feb and left 22nd Feb 2022. On arrival at Windhoek Airport, before customs, I was asked for Panabios Covid test results. I had everything else including vaccination certificates, the RSA Lab negative Test results - all were unacceptable. Queues of arriving passengers on the Airlink flight also did not have this Panabios hardcopy report. All without the Panabios proof were then required to establish internet connection using phones, download the Panabios App, retrieve their results, and present this to the authorities with a bar coded reference number. Chaos ensued as some passengers did not have internet on phones, many others could not get into the App, remember, or get passwords etc. etc. Unnecessary frustration, irritation and anxiety occurred as a result. Clearly the Panabios requirement was poorly - or not communicated to passengers before they left. Then on my return, I diligently got the Panabios report in hard copy, presented it to Airlink check-in staff who said it was not acceptable - they wanted the lab report NOT the Panabios document. I did not have it in hard copy and they did not want to accept my phone lab report email as evidence, so once again I ended up messing around until eventually I was able to get a lab report printed through the Airlink office. OR Thambo wanted the Lab report, NOT Panabios. The lack of consistency in terms of the Covid proof of testing is unnecessarily frustrating. If Windhoek requires something different to RSA, can we at least be better informed. Recommend passengers download and copy both the Panabios and the Laboratory proof of negative status to avoid this frustration..

✅ Verified Review | What a horrendous experience (again). Getting through WDH airport has now become a mission and I'd suggest to anyone planning a trip there to bring a camping chair, sandwiches and something to drink, because you'll spend up to 2 hours getting in and out of the airport. A new immigration system is to blame I understand. Forget trying to do a day trip to Windhoek, what with the queues and the lengthy drive into town, you'll probably only get an hour's work done. This airport does nothing to enhance the image of what is otherwise a very pleasant country to visit.

✅ Verified Review | Windhoek is a small airport with an increasing number of flights. Facilities are limited but everything you need is there and seemed sufficient for numbers passing through. Arriving early, departing late on Air Namibia from/to FRA arrival took less than an hour and departing security was a reasonable time. Staff were efficient and friendly. Much easier to pass through than major airports.

Windhoek airport is small but clean and really well organized. The only restaurant at the check in area is situated at the Arrival area, food is fresh and delicious. Facilities are quite good.

On arrival we had a long wait in the queue at 3pm. It appeared as though most of the staff were on lunch. We had a few elderly people in the queue who had difficulty standing for so long. On departure a female staff member had an earpiece for a cell phone in her ear was enjoying her conversation and laughing. Barely greeted me and almost threw passport at me. Very hostile attitude. Officials generally were unfriendly. Two toilet seats were missing in the ladies toilets in the general area.

Windhoek Airport is nearly 50km away from the city. Most people will arrange for private transport although there is supposed to be shuttle bus operators. It is not very big and there is a decent selection of shops air-side. The waiting hall is spacious enough most of the time. The problem is during peak periods (notably in the early morning when a bunch of flights leave around the same time or when the Windhoek-Frankfurt flight leaves) that it falls short. The immigration counters and the single x-ray machine (the second machine appears to be for show only) backs up considerably.

Again in WDH July 2009 no changes at the airport. Lost and Found queue very slow go there as soon as possible when you realize that your luggage is lost. Immigration very slow too. Note that you have to fill up a form after security control when departing (it takes some more minute and you need a pen!).

The main lounge is quite large and it is clean and bright. There are some shops vat refund (enter the "Custom Office") tables outside the airport to enjoy last minutes of Namibia. Not many flights but in the evening there are departures to Germany and South Africa at the same time and the departure lounge is really too small for all passengers leaving! Expect to sit on the floor so wait in the main lounge until is possible. Duty free is expensive a poor bar and a very small gift and diamonds(!) shop. There are only 5 or 6 gates but often the screens show the wrong flights! There is a smoking area often crowded too!