• Tsaone SegaetshoAir Botswana General Manager, Lulu Rasebotsa, announced that the newly purchased four Embraer jets aim to revive and improve the airline’s presence in the Southern African region.
This week, she stated that the new aircraft will bring back or facilitate the expansion of the national carrier’s route network with new routes such as Gaborone-Namibia, Gaborone-Durban, Maun-Cape Town, and Maun-Nelspruit.
“Acquisition of new aircraft was poised to facilitate the expansion of the route network through reviving and establishing new routes like Gaborone-Namibia, Gaborone-Durban, Maun-Cape Town, and Maun-Nelspruit,” said Rasebotsa.
Rasebotsa also informed the media that Air Botswana has already paid for three jets and is working on procuring the fourth within two months. The purchase of these jets is regarded as a re-fleeting initiative to promote growth and expansion, positioning the national carrier well within the region. The four jets will join two new generation ATR72-600 turbo propeller aircraft and an Embraer E-170 jet.
“Procurement of the new fleet affirms that Air Botswana remains steadfast in its pursuit of value chain development initiatives through serving locally produced products during its flights,” Rasebotsa added.
The addition of these four jets to the fleet will support Air Botswana’s strategy, which recently saw the national flag carrier launching a cargo business division.
Rasebotsa highlighted that with re-fleeting, Air Botswana is strategically positioned to contribute to the economic growth of Botswana. She noted that Air Botswana plays a vital role in the tourism sector and facilitates business activities in Botswana. Rasebotsa emphasised that Air Botswana should aim to be a key player in various value chains, including the hospitality value chain.
The new fleet will also boost the economy by creating new jobs, such as employing pilots, cabin crew members, engineering units, and generating indirect employment opportunities.
Although the national airline has faced negative reviews and press in past years, Rasebotsa expressed confidence that these issues would soon be a thing of the past. She stated that the re-fleeting exercise, which is nearing completion, is expected to improve Air Botswana’s operational performance and address the delays that have plagued the national carrier’s reputation for years.
