Air Botswana (BP, Gaborone) will receive BWP121.2 million pula (USD8.8 million) from the government of Botswana as a development expenditure, the country’s 2024-2025 draft budget showed. The figure compares to BWP165.9 million (USD12.1 million) which the flag carrier received in the 2023-2024 budget.
Speaking before parliament, Finance Minister Peggy O. Serame stated that the budget aims to finance a number of air, rail, and bridge infrastructure projects. “The air projects to be catered for include: maintenance of airports, improvement of surveillance of Botswana airspace, upgrading of air navigation services infrastructure, installation and improvement of airports security systems, mandatory engines replacement, procurement of airport safety equipment as well as improvement of existing airport security and safety,” she said.
The budget is up for approval in March. Air Botswana and the ministry of finance were not immediately available for comment.
According to the draft, Air Botswana’s development funding in the Transitional National Development Plan has been revised to BWP702.7 million (USD51.2 million) for the 2023-2025 period encompassed in the plan from an initial allocation of BWP133.6 million (USD9.7 million).
Air Botswana has been unprofitable for years and continues to await privatisation and a strategic partner. The airline operates two company-owned ATR72-600s and one company-owned ERJ 170-100LR, according to the ch-aviation fleets module.
