Botswana-based ecotourism operator Wilderness Safaris has confirmed it has submitted a proposal to the country's government concerning the privatization of national carrier Air Botswana (BP, Gaborone).
The firm said in its FY2016/17 annual results filing to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange this week that despite its application, "there has been no further progress in the matter."
Wilderness Safaris operates camps and mobile safaris across Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, the Seychelles, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Air Botswana is one of several loss-making state-owned enterprises Ian Khama's government shortlisted for privatization in February this year. It is hoped that the introduction of a suitable strategic partner will turn the airline's fortunes around following years of annual losses.
Other firms known to have submitted Expressions of Interest (EOI) in the airline include Germany's InAvia Aviation Consultants GmbH, South African carrier Comair (South Africa) (CAW, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo), and Ethiopian Airlines (ET, Addis Ababa International).
