Air Botswana Flights

Air Botswana is based at the Sir Seretse Khama Airport in Gabarone (Botswana), and operates regular flights to Johannesburg (South Africa), Harare (Zimbabwe), Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe), Maun (Botswana), Kasane (Botswana), and Francistown (Botswana).

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News

13 May 2013. Shortly after takeoff from Sir Seretse Khama airport, the engine of an Air Botswana flight bound for Johannesburg, blows apart. ”We left SSKI at about 9am and 30 minutes after take off we heard a huge booming sound. It sounded like something had blasted and that was when flight attendants informed us that the engine had blown apart and we had to return to Gaborone to land and board a different aircraft. I was destined for Asia and I nearly missed my connecting flight but I thank God I am alive.” said a passenger, “It’s true. There was a slightly higher than normal power surge, so the flight had to turn back as a safety precaution. This is excellent as it is exactly what we have trained our pilots to do.” said Sakhile Reilling, the Chief Executive of Air Botswana

17 Apr 2013	A rowdy passenger who was insulting staff members is offloaded from an Air Botswana flight at Maun Airport. The passenger was an employee of the Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (he requested that his name not be published).
5 Apr 2013	Air Botswana decides to restart CPT - Maun flights; flying twice a week on Sundays & Thursdays.
1 Apr 2013	Air Botswana quits flying from Cape Town to Maun.
31 Mar 2013	Air Botswana planned to fly 3 weekly flights commence from Gaborone to Lanseria, served by ATR72s, but later cancelled this plan.
Feb 2013	Air Botswana opens a "Pula Lounge" at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, naming it after Botswana's currency. The lounge is available to members of the Teemane Club (Air Botswana's frequent flyer club). "Now our passengers will be able to conduct their business here before they fly out," said Robert Mpabanga, the commercial manager at Air Botswana.

Teemane Club

Air Botswana's frequent flyer club is called the Teemane Club, and is free to join for anybody who flies with Air Botswana. Members enjoy guaranteed seats, extra luggage allowances and other benefits:

a silver member gets a 5kg extra baggage allowance, a gold member 10kg extra and a diamond member 15kg extra.

Reviews

LA to Africa

Flight to Kasane

Botswana from above

Air Botswana flight reservations

Air Botswana's website	Air Botswana
Reservations	+267 3905500 +267) 3951921

Management

Lance Brogden	General Manager
Tebogo Moipolai	Corporate Secretary
Clerk Moroka	Engineering Manager
James Kumwenda	Finance Manager
Batlhatswi Shongwe Tsayang	Human Resource Manager

Flight routes

Air Botswana operates the following flight routes:

Cape Town to Gaborone

Gaborone to Cape Town

Gaborone to Francistown

Gaborone to Harare

Gaborone to Johannesburg

Gaborone to Kasane

Gaborone to Lanseria

Gaborone to Lusaka

Gaborone to Maun

Johannesburg to Kasane

Johannesburg to Francistown

Johannesburg (Lanseria) to Gaborone

Johannesburg to Maun

Maun to Kasane

Maun to Victoria Falls

History of Air Botswana

21 Dec 2012	Ms Sakhile Nyoni-Reiling, General Manager at Air Botswana, resigns.
Dec 2012	Paul Champane, Head of IT at Air Botswana, resigns to take up an opportunity at the Okavango Diamond Company.
30 Oct 2012	Three weekly flights commence from Maun to Victoria Falls (VFA).
28 Oct 2012	Flights from Cape Town to Gaborone, and Lanseria to Gaborone commence.
Sep 2012	Air Botswana has increased its fleet to 8 planes, following the purchase of an Avro RJ-85 from Lufthansa Airlines. The plane arrived in Botswana in late October. “The new jet has come at a time when the national airline is looking to expand its route network into other Southern African destinations,” said Mr Joe Motse, Air Botswana's Commercial Director.
12 Aug 2012	On its take-off to South Africa, an Air Botswana Jet, A2-ABF, experiences an engine blast. The pilot landed the plane and nobody was hurt.
2 May 2012	Air Botswana launches a fully automated frequent flyer club - the Teemane Club
Apr 2012	It's reported that Air Botswana lost P54m in its 2010/11 financial year.
Apr 2011	Air Botswana loses P45m in its 2009/2010 financial year.
Oct 2010	Air Botswana adds a Saturday flight from Gaborone to Harare, leaving Gaborone at 10h30 and arriving in Harare at 12h40.
Oct 2010	Air Botswana Johannesburg - Maun flights (direct) have been discontinued (Air Botswana continues operating the route in both directions via Sir Seretse Khama International Airport). Passengers travelling in either direction will now stay on board the aircraft during a short technical stop at Gaborone and then clear immigration and customs at their destination.
Mar 2009	Air Botswana receives its first ATR 72-500. ATR Interview of Maemo Bantsi, CEO Air Botswana - March 2009 Maemo Bantsi: "Air Botswana is more of a regional operator and a domestic operator, and our vision is to be the airline of first choice. And therefore, in this vision, we also have a mission statement, that says that, being an airline of first choice in the region, is that we will also be able to deliver high quality standards, world-class standards, and efficient operations. And in that regard, it is also therefore that we focus on our route in the network, within this region and therefore, in that respect, the acquisition of the 72-500 will help us in our program of expansion in our network services, for the new acquisition, because the ATR that we have just acquired has very good cabin elegance, it is also very good in terms of fuel efficiency, and also it will be a delight to our passengers, to have this type of aircraft within our fleet. One of the areas that we want to expand our services is within the tourism industry, and therefore this type of aircraft is scheduled to fly in the major tourist destinations. It will also increase the number of passengers that we, we have seen since that the number of passengers has increased over the past six months, within the areas that we have been flying. And we are also going to be introducing another route which is a direct flight from one of the second cities of Botswana, direct to Johannesburg, so therefore it will help us actually in terms of expansion of our route network. We just saw the cockpit now, and our captains are actually excited about the cockpit and also I believe it will also offer ourselves flexibility in safety because it is a new aircraft and what is also important is that our people have been flying ATR for a number of years and the commonality of everything that we have is also an add-on to our situation as Air Botswana We know ATR to be very good in terms of fuel efficiency and also the reduction of noise in the aircraft which also helps, just general comfort of the 72-500 that we have experienced on the demo flight in Gaborone. When we did the demo , we invited a number of stake-holders, our tourist people, travel agents and general public just to have a feel of the aircraft. And the feedback that we got was that: You have to go for it. And we are definitely sure that the passengers will love this aircraft. ATR -600 series - Well, I've read that it's actually an improved version of the current 72-500, especially in terms of the cockpit, it will have a classic cockpit, which is also good for the pilots, and they will love that. And I believe also that it have a bit more power, with respect to the current fleet that we are operating, as a new generation type of aircraft, and even the, I understand it's more environmentally friendly, in terms of the issues of environmental matters. In one word I will just say that the ATR id the best in the regional aircraft manufacturers."
5 Jun 2008	Comair is named as the preferred bidder for the Air Botswana management contract.
4 Oct 2007	Botswana's cabinet decides not to accept Airlink's proposal that Air Botswana be wound down.
Apr 2006	Government invites companies to tender for the purchase of Air Botswana.
2005	Lance Brogden is appointed Chief Executive Officer of Air Botswana.
11 Oct 1999 evening	Chris Phatswe, a grounded Air Botswana Captain, boards an otherwise empty ATR42 turboprop aircraft, takes off and asks to speak to the president. As the president is not in Botswana the vice president speaks to him. All attempts to convince him to land fail and after an hour in the air he crashlands into Air Botswana's other 2 parked ATR42s (Phatswe died in the crash), destroying 3 of Air Botswana's 4 planes (their fourth plane was grounded with technical difficulties at the time). It was later revealed that Phatswe was suffering from AIDS, although it is not known whether this played a role in his actions.
Apr 1988	Air Botswana becomes a government parastatal falling within the ambit of the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications.
1980	An Air Botswana plane is featured in Jamie Uys's film "The Gods Must be Crazy".
Apr 1974	In Botswana's first major air diasaster, a WENELA DC 4 aircraft crashes in Francistown, killing some 70 people (mostly Malawian migrant workers in SA's mines).
Apr 1972	Air Botswana is formed, taking over from its predecessor, the Botswana Airways Corporation (BOAC)
1969	Botswana Airways replaces Botswana National Airways.