Air Botswana (BP, Gaborone) is looking at resuming domestic flights from June 12, having suspended them for more than two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Botswana Daily News reported.

Thulagano Merafe Segokgo, the country's minister of transport and communications, said during a news conference on May 26 that the flag carrier's revenues had all but ceased due to the extreme social distancing imposed during a lockdown in place since March 26.

As previously reported, Air Botswana suspended scheduled services on its domestic and regional network from March 27. Sales had already dropped by 32% in the first two weeks of March compared to the same period in 2019.

However, Botswana's nationwide lockdown gradually started to be eased earlier this month.

Resumed flights will mainly be from Gaborone to Francistown, Kasane, and Maun - the last routes that had been shut down. But international flights will remain suspended for the time being, as the landlocked country's borders are still closed.

Air Botswana operates a fleet of two ATR72-600s and an E170, according to the ch-aviation fleets module.

The carrier will adhere to all World Health Organisation protocols, the minister stressed, as well as to local regulations tied to the country's response to the pandemic. Asked whether the airline would adhere to the social distancing measures required for public transport, Segokgo said it was up to all operators to ensure that protocols are strictly followed.