To mitigate ongoing losses, Air Botswana (BP, Gaborone) has cancelled three routes that incurred net losses of BWP44.5 million pula (USD3.3 million) over a nine-month period, as part of a new turnaround strategy being implemented by a newly constituted board led by chairman, Dane Kondić.
This was the word from Botswana's transport minister, Noah S.L.M. Salakae, when he delivered his ministry's 2026-2027 Recurrent and Development Budget to the National Assembly recently.
He said the three discontinued routes had been introduced and operated between November 2024 and July 2025. They are Gaborone-Durban King Shaka, Gaborone-Windhoek International, and Maun-Cape Town International, which were part of an expansion drive launched in late 2024 aimed at strengthening regional connectivity and boosting revenues for the struggling airline, the newspaper Mmegi reported.
Salakae acknowledged that his "most urgent task is to ensure that the airline operates efficiently to improve service delivery and restore customer confidence." To achieve this, he has appointed another new board, led by former Air Serbia CEO Kondić as chairman, and which includes newly appointed general manager, Bao Mosinyi, who previously served as the CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB).
The new board has been tasked to expedite the turnaround strategy, which, Salakae said, "clearly outlines immediate, medium, and long-term interventions. These interventions include intensifying charter operations and aircraft leasing, introducing travel packages, expanding the maintenance and repair facility, undertaking a feasibility study for cargo operations, and restructuring the airline."
Salakae presented a budget of BWP127 million (USD9.3 million) for Air Botswana for 2026-2027, BWP233.7 million (USD17.2 million) for civil aviation infrastructure, and BWP96.1 million (USD7.1 million) for the CAAB.
Smaller or bigger aircraft?
According to Botswana's Sunday Standard newspaper, Salakae also suggested that the government is considering small aircraft for Air Botswana for operating thin routes such as Gaborone-Ghanzi.
"We're thinking along the lines of reinstating small flights for areas like Ghanzi. We are considering purchasing perhaps a six-seater or seven-seater since we're not a resourceful economy," he said in response to a question.
However, some lawmakers urged the minister to acquire long-haul aircraft for Air Botswana, highlighting that current fleet limitations are hindering the national carrier's ability to tap into international routes, impacting tourism, trade, and business travel. Acquiring such aircraft would boost operational capacity and competitiveness, driving economic growth, they argued.
Air Botswana currently operates with three company-owned aircraft: two ATR72-600s, which serve domestic routes and Johannesburg O.R. Tambo; and one E175, which flies domestically and serves regional destinations, including Johannesburg, Cape Town International, Harare International, and Lusaka, ADS-B data confirms. The airline's single in-house E170 last flew in April 2025. Two E145s wet-leased from Namibia's Westair Aviation were returned to Windhoek Eros in August and September 2025, respectively.
The minister also reported that Botswana has certified Kasane as its third international airport. The country plans further major upgrades: transforming Maun into a "world-class" international gateway, and developing Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport into a major air cargo and logistics hub to support economic growth and reduce reliance on foreign hubs.
Air Botswana has not responded to repeated requests for comment.
