The statutory data body noted in the latest Transport and Infrastructure Statistics brief that movements dropped from 17,706 in the last quarter of 2024 to 13,745. The downfall was expected in the Oct-Dec quarter, which usually attracts large travel volumes as tourists visit and leave the country. “Aircraft movements declined by 22.4% in the first quarter of 2025, dropping from 17,706 in the previous quarter to 13,745,” the report stated. Domestic flights made up the bulk of activity at 76.8%, while international flights accounted for 23.2% of all aircraft movements. However, both categories registered quarter-on-quarter declines with domestic aircraft movements falling by 24.8%, while international movements dropped by 13.2%. “Domestic movements accounted for the majority, constituting 76.8 percent of the total, while international movements represented 23.2 percent,” the brief added.
At airport level, Maun Airport continued to lead in aircraft traffic, accounting for 66.1% of total movements in the quarter. It was followed by Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA) at 19.5%, and Kasane Airport at 12.5%. Other airports such as Phillip Matante contributed 1.7 percent, while Selibe Phikwe and Ghanzi each recorded 0.1 percent. Passenger movement also declined, registering a 19.9% drop from the previous quarter to reach 168,933. International passengers made up 61.8% of the total, while domestic passengers comprised 38.2%. Domestic passenger numbers fell by 23.4%, and international passengers by 17.5%. “Air passenger movements recorded this quarter stood at 168,933, a decline of 19.9% when compared to the previous quarter,” the report confirmed. Scheduled passenger services dominated, accounting for 78.9% of total passenger movement. Non-scheduled services followed at 19.3%, while private and scenic flights each accounted for 0.9%.
