Emirates, Etihad lands in Gabz
MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer
| Monday March 12, 2012 00:00
The two jets bound for OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, made a rare appearance in Gaborone and were later seen refuelling there before taking off later in the night. Speculation has it that the two airlines from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were probably on a mission to test the capacity of the new Chinese-built SSKIA in preparation for the introduction of direct flights to Europe for diamond companies in Botswana.
In October 2010, Botswana and the UAE concluded a memorandum of agreement that paved the way for Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, RAK Airways and Fly Dubai flights into Botswana.
But The Monitor sources at the airport on Saturday claimed the two airbus jets, with a carrying capacity of over 800 passengers each, had ran out of fuel midair while hovering over OR Tambo International waiting for weather conditions to improve.
Some sources The Monitor spoke to however said the rare landing of Airbus jets at the SKKIA had nothing to do with the weather, but that their crews just chose to fuel in Botswana this time en route to South Africa.
Further investigation by The Monitor showed that OR Tambo airport had no weather issues affecting either the landing or taking off of flights on Saturday. Air Botswana (AB) flights safely landed at OR Tambo in the morning and in the evening. The Monitor team also witnessed a South African Airways (SAA) flight landing in Gaborone from the OR Tambo after 6pm, Saturday. The OR Tambo website or twitter updates did not indicate any landing or take-off problems either.
Both flights, by Emirates (famous for their sponsorship of English Premiership side Arsenal) and Etihad (shirt sponsors of Manchester City), were grounded at the SSKIA for more than two hours. By around 7pm Saturday The Monitor team witnessed the first flight, Etihad being refuelled by a truck loaded with aviation fuel that had just been driven to the scene.
Later in the night the aircraft took off, with Emirates leading the way, followed by Etihad.
Meanwhile, Director of Civil Aviation Major General Thokwane says he was informed that the two flights had to land here to wait for the weather at the OR Tambo International Airport to clear.
He would not explain why only two jets, from the same country for that matter, seemed to be the only ones affected by the so-called weather problem. Thokwane also emphasized to The Monitor that the 'Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is the number one alternative landing facility for any South Africa-bound flights'.