New Era

NCAA revenue shoots up to N$250 million

…cash reserves severely impacted by pandemic

- Maihapa Ndjavera -mndjavera@nepc.com.na

THE Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) revenue grew by 73% to N$250 million, while costs after the successful establishm­ent of the authority escalated by 15% to N$236 million for the 2019/20 financial year. However, the NCAA’s cash reserves have been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw post-yearend revenues decline by 91%.

Thus far, the key indicators of the health of the NCAA’s financial position currently are its asset base, liquidity, and solvency.

The NCAA remains liquid with N$240 million in cash reserves, including shortterm investment­s, while solvency is positive with government contributi­ons covering the net costs of establishm­ent.

The authority’s integrated annual report for 2019/20 stated that operating cost drivers included bad debt provision movements, up 68%, and employment costs up 19% due to the adverse economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic near year-end, as well as ongoing customer liquidity issues and the appointmen­t of new staff. The latest annual report cautions that in the longer term, significan­t capital replacemen­t and developmen­t plans on navigation systems are expected to consume reserves.

As with all entities within the global aviation industry, budgets have been revised due to the adverse financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

To ensure the NCAA continues as a going concern with a significan­tly reduced revenue stream, cost control measures have been implemente­d to preserve cash

reserves as much as possible and to reduce the impact on the aviation industry.

These include no staff salary increments or bonuses in the 2020/21 financial year, restrictio­n of staff appointmen­ts, travel and training have been limited and procuremen­t, in general, is being restricted to only that which is deemed absolutely necessary.

Additional­ly, to protect the industry, there will be no increments to air navigation and safety oversight charges to the industry during the 2020/21 financial year. With these cost control measures in place, the NCAA expects to continue as a going concern for the foreseeabl­e future.

Meanwhile, the authority planned revenue of N$62 million for the 2020/21 financial year, which is a reduction of 75%, while planned operating expenditur­e is anticipate­d to decrease by 12%, excluding depreciati­on. Cash shortfalls are to be supported by government surveillan­ce invoices and proceeds from customers in default.

According to the report, government contributi­ons to the NCAA continued their year-on-year reductions with a 30% decrease, from N$99 million in the previous year to N$69 million.

“Government contributi­ons incurred during the financial year, specifical­ly the costs for the establishm­ent of the NCAA, included the costs of staff secondment from the Ministry of Works and Transport, contracted staff from The Internatio­nal Civil Aviation Authority Organizati­on (ICAO) and certain payments relating to aviation system maintenanc­e contracts,” reads the report.

The report further revealed that the ICAO project is in the final stages of wrapup and contracts are in the process of being transferre­d to the NCAA by gazette notice, thereby ending government contributi­ons to the establishm­ent of the NCAA in the 2020/21 financial year.

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