Aviation problems: Govt should wake up

Editor | Tuesday October 12, 2010 00:00

Although flights delays and cancellations are not a new phenomenon at Air Botswana, the situation is getting worse by the day and worryingly government seems to be taking time to address the matter.

Although Botswana adopted an open skies policy years ago, not much work has been done on the ground, as government is still committed to protecting Air Botswana.

Due to the continued protection of Air Botswana, South Africa recently retaliated and stopped the direct flight from Johannesburg to Maun.  The development may have the undesired consequences of harming our tourism industry.

The breakdown of negotiations between South Africa and Botswana over the Bilateral Air Service agreements mean that Botswana will become less accessible as a tourism destination.

Moreover, there is the danger of losing business to alternative destinations such as East Africa.  We must avoid this especially at a time when we are trying to diversify our economy from over reliance on diamonds.

 While the protection of the national airline makes sense in matters like security and citizen empowerment, government has not shown much commitment and urgency in privatisation and seems to be sitting on the fence.

We do not see the rationale of opening up the skies to Singapore Airlines, Ethiopian Airways and Kenya Airways and then blocking other airlines from certain routes into Botswana.

In the short term, we call on the minister concerned, Frank Ramsden, to give priority to engaging in deliberations with South Africa to restart negotiations on the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).  In the medium term, the government will have to show commitment to either adopt a strategic plan to develop Air Botswana and the routes or let other players come in.

Once that plan is in place, it must put the resources in place to ensure the plan is developed.  Given that government is trying to cut expenditure, the heavy capital investment that the Air Botswana requires might not be available.

If government is not committed to the airline, then it must open the skies to foreign players and accept the consequences. The strength of the South African position has made matters worse for Botswana because nearly all the long haul air access to Botswana is via OR Tambo International Airport.

So long as government sits in the middle, the tourism and all industries in Botswana will be adversely affected by poor air connection.