Air Botswana (BP, Gaborone) has signed a firm order agreement with ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac) for two ATR72-600s.

According to the Franco-Italian manufacturer, the turboprops will be equipped with the latest navigation aids and will also feature a 70-seat, dual-class cabin.

Air Botswana currently operates a fleet of three ATR42-500s and one ATR72-500 on scheduled passenger flights connecting its Gaborone hub with Francistown, Maun, and Kasane domestically as well as Johannesburg O.R. Tambo in neighbouring South Africa. With the arrival of the new ATR72-600s during the final quarter of this year, so Air Botswana will begin retiring its older aircraft.

In March, then Minister for Transport and Communications, Kitso Mokaila, confirmed the acquisition of a 70-seat jet from Embraer.