AB resignation from IATA 'confidential'

BAME PIET
Staff Writer | Wednesday October 13, 2010 00:00

 

In a written response to our queries Albert Tjoeng, assistant director of corporate communications of IATA headquarters in Geneva Switzerland (Asia Pacific) said 'Air Botswana resigned from IATA membership at the end of 2008 (they were not suspended). In terms of why they chose to stop their IATA membership, you might want to check with Air Botswana directly'.

However, Air Botswana acting commercial director, Helen Chilisa would not say a word on why Air Botswana resigned from IATA. 'Our Contract binds us not to disclose any information on the agreement between the two parties, so I'm not in position to do that right now,' she said. The airline management has for the past three years told the nation that it was suspended from the organisation after it failed to meet some of the requirements and standards.

The latest developments come at a time when there are reports that the general manager of the troubled airline has resigned his position citing poor state of fleet and the urgent need to revamp it. There are further reports that there is a syndicate of people in influential positions who want to bring the airline to its knees so that it can be privatised and taken over by their friends at a cheap price.