WHO IS AIR BOTSWANA.

Air Botswana, a Body Corporate established in terms of the Air Botswana Act [CAP 74:07] Having its principal office at Plot 42307, Airport Road Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, Gaborone.

Air Botswana is the country’s flag carrier and national airline. Air Botswana continues to be on the IATA registry, attesting to the airline’s full commitment to the highest operational and safety standards. The airline services Botswana’s key economic sectors of mining and tourism through the provision of convenient connections linking Africa’s business and leisure centres, it serves as an enabler and hence its contribution to GDP is significant. The airline operates a modern fleet with 2 ATR72 -600 model aircraft, 1 E170, 1E175 & 2 E145’s. They provide efficiency in form of speed and comfort in the short sectors operated by the airline.

 

Botswana is rated highly for its democratic traditions and stability, its robust economy, its sound and transparent administration, and its outstanding natural attractions.

And Air Botswana has been part of it all. The national carrier has contributed fully to the phenomenal growth of the country that it serves well, and in so doing has built a wide reputation for quality air services that is quite disproportionate to its modest size.

 ON INDEPENDENCE in 1966, the concept of the new nation having its own airline was only a dream.

It would be more than 20 years – during which the predecessors of Air Botswana operated under various names and almost entirely dependent on outside equipment and expertise – before that dream became the reality of a national airline in the true sense.

The country’s first airline, Botswana National Airways Corporation, wholly owned by the Government, was not profitable and had to be liquidated. The economy at the time was chronically underdeveloped and the travel and tourism industry in its infancy. A second attempt by the Government and some private investors to operate a viable airline also failed.

Then came the formation of Air Botswana (Pty) Limited as a subsidiary of the Botswana Development Corporation, which was established by the Government in 1970 to be the country’s main financing agency for commercial and industrial development.