Air Botswana is set to acquire new jet aircraft, in a fleet and route expansion initiative.
Gaborone-based Air Botswana is expecting three new aircraft to join its fleet – all Embraer jets.
AIR BOTSWANA FLEET
Air Botswana presently has an operational fleet consisting of 3 aircraft. This includes one Embraer E170 jet and two ATR 72-600 turboprops.
That said, the three aircraft are used to operate its compact Southern African route network.
The three additional Embraer jets will effectively double the size of Air Botswana’s fleet.
AIR BOTSWANA’S EXPANSION PLANS
The airline’s CEO Lulu Rasebotsa said that the acquisition of new aircraft is part of a broader strategy to transform Botswana’s national carrier.
Furthermore, Rasebotsa also said that it was likely that the airline would need a fourth new aircraft.
“Air Botswana has embarked on a re-fleet exercise, we have been working around the clock since December, and we are glad to state that we have identified three new aircraft, three fully paid for, and we are on the market for the fourth,” Lulu Rasebotsa said during a recent media engagement.
COMPACT ROUTE NETWORK
The additional Embraer jets will enable Air Botswana to expand its route network.
The carrier offers a compact route network with just three aircraft.
Thus, these planes operate Air Botswana’s scheduled flights between Gaborone, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Kasane, Maun, and Francistown.
Moreover, the airline will not be retiring its older ATR aircraft.
Rasebotsa said that these would continue to be used, to prevent delays in the airline’s flight schedule.
EXPANDED FLEET, NEW ROUTES
Air Botswana aims to introduce new routes. However, these are not yet confirmed.
Rasebotsa said that the airline is doing its homework with regard to route expansion.
She said Air Botswana is benchmarking, to ensure that new routes are implemented effectively, to meet customer needs and expand Air Botswana’s market reach.
FUTURE ROUTE EXPANSION
Businessweekly reports that potential new routes for Air Botswana include Durban and Nelspruit in South Africa, and Namibia.
However, Air Botswana is awaiting final approval before it can confirm the start of these services.
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BOOST FOR TOURISM
The carrier is also considering reintroducing services between Maun and Cape Town, and Kasane and Cape Town.
“We are waiting for final approval for Namibia, Durban, Nelspruit and to bring back Cape Town to Kasane and Cape Town to Maun in order to drive tourism and diversify the economy of this country,” Rasebotsa said.
That said, the routes under consideration seem a good fit for the airline since they offer connectivity between some of Africa’s prime tourist hotspots.
