- Has signed agreements with cargo handling agents in key source markets
- Aviation school and other value chain development projects underway
- “Recent injection of P91m should eliminate complaints about airline’s performance”
As Air Botswana recovers from the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the national airline ought to focus on diversifying its revenue streams and becoming more cargo driven, the Minister of Transport and Public Works, Eric Molale, has said.
“The airline has signed agreements with cargo handling agents at key source markets such as China, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Germany and the United Arab Emirates,” he said when presenting his ministry’s budget proposals for the 2023/2024 financial year to Parliament recently. Minister Molale added that a lot of effort is required to revitalise the struggling airline and airports around the country by restructuring and finding a strategic partner for the airline, which is underway.
Valuation of Air Botswana and its value chain growth projects, which must precede procurement of a strategic business partners, has commenced while an aviation school is scheduled to be operational by October 2023. Molale said his ministry will also expand the Maintenance and Repairs facility in order to attract third-party clientele a variety of aircraft types to use it. Public Private Partnerships (PPP) will be used for a ground handling company and a travel agency in order to achieve competitive fares for the airline’s passengers.
“In the meantime, the government is committed to ensuring that Air Botswana remains a going concern as evidenced by the recent injection of P91 million for the restoration of its fleet to full capacity,” said the minister. “This should eliminate complaints about the airline’s performance.” Regarding the safety and security of Botswana’s airspace, Molale noted that the country attained a rating of 80 percent compared to Africa’s average of 57 percent and the global average of 67.4 percent in an audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in 2022.
He said his ministry will undertake an Improvement of Air Traffic Services (ATS) Surveillance Coverage of the Botswana Airspace project in the next financial year to improve the safety and security of Botswana airspace and thus attract more airlines and overflights. “It will not only ensure aviation safety and security but also attract investors and tourists into the country, increasing revenues through overflight fees,” he noted. “My ministry intends to go into a continuous improvement mode to sustain all these achievements and initiatives for the overall good of our economy.”
With the recent certification of Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA), which ensures safe and efficient airport operations, Molale said the ministry intends to certify Botswana’s other international airports, namely Maun International Airport, Kasane International Airport and PG Matante International Airport (PGMIA) next financial year.
