Air Botswana (BP, Gaborone) is set to acquire an Embraer Regional Jet as part of its fleet renewal and upgrade scheme.
According to BusinessWeek, Minister for Transport and Communications, Kitso Mokaila, told legislators last week that the 70-seater jet, presumably an E170 or similar variant, would join the two previously announced ATR72-600s in updating the carrier's fleet in a bid to render it more financially self-sustaining and therefore more attractive to would-be investors.
“Air Botswana is in the process of acquiring additional aircraft to position itself regionally as well as introduce new local routes,” Mokaila said. “This is aimed at achieving enhanced revenue streams and strengthening the airline’s balance sheet.”
To that end, parliament approved the requested budget of BWP290 million pula (USD30.47 million) needed to undertake the purchase plan.
Government has attempted to privatize the carrier four times - in 2017, 2008, 2006, and 2003 - each time without success.
Air Botswana currently operates an all-ATR - Avions de Transport Régional fleet of three ATR42-500s and one ATR72-500 on flights covering Gaborone, Maun, Francistown, and Kasane domestically as well as Johannesburg O.R. Tambo in South Africa. Service between Cape Town International and Gaborone - the only route to be operated using jet aircraft - was suspended earlier this year following regulatory issues at ACMI provider, CemAir (5Z, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo).
