Air Botswana worth P300m � Mokaila
Pauline Dikuelo | Wednesday August 9, 2017 16:39
Addressing Parliamentarians recently, the minister said government is still continuing with the privatisation of the national airline with plans to turn it into a private company where on its own right would be able to raise its own loans.
“The value of Air Botswana today is P300 million looking at its assets being aircraft and property.
If we refleet, it would have a different value and we should also consider that it has developed capacity on its ability to maintain aircraft repairs.
They can become a regional player in this,” he said.
Early this year, the minister said about 17 companies expressed interest in buying the ailing national airline with tourism operator, Wilderness Holdings emerging the preferred bidder.
Wilderness, however later withdrew their interest.
Air Botswana has been dogged by financial losses and poor service delivery due to an aging fleet and high operational costs for quite some time.
Last year, the national airline launched a code-sharing partnership with Qatar Airways; a move that chairperson, Tebogo Masire is upbeat will boost the country and the airline’s exposure on the international market.
Meanwhile, about five airlines have been granted traffic rights into Botswana, which include Air Namibia, South African Express (SAX), South African Air Link, Ethiopian Airlines as well as Air Services.
Air Namibia operates Windhoek, Gaborone, Durban, Victoria Falls, while SAX operates Johannesburg-Gaborone route and South African Air Link operates Capetown, Maun, Johannesburg and Gaborone routes. Ethiopian Airlines operates Gaborone, Addis Ababa and Victoria Falls routes.
According to the minister, the fifth one, Fast Jet Airlines was issued with an Air Licence to operate on the Harare, Francistown, and Gaborone routes, but have not yet commenced operations. However, their licence expired on January 17 this year and has not been renewed to date.
Late last year, the national carrier announced that they have suspended the Gaborone-Harare route as part of its plans to enhance the scheduled rationalisation exercise for the upcoming summer period.
According to Air Botswana public relations officer, Thabiso Leshoai the rationalisation was part of the airline’s plan to enhance schedule integrity and improve customer experience without compromising its commercial viability.
Air Botswana was flying the Gaborone-Harare route three times a week.