► BOTSWANA: SA Airlink to start Johannesburg - Kasane from late March.

In addition to announcing flights to Vilanculos, Mozambqiue, SA Airlink (4Z) will commence a scheduled Johannesburg – Kasane (Botswana) service, from Friday 22 March 2012. The initial schedule will operate on Days 1357 departing Johannesburg OR Tambo at 11h45 arriving back in Johannesburg at 15h50. From August 2013 the service will operate daily.

■ BOTSWANA: Air Botswana selects ADSoftware's AIRPACK for its ERP platform.

Botswana national carrier, Air Botswana (BP), recently implemented French aviation software specialist ADSoftware's "AIRPACK Fleet Management System & Logistics Solutions" as part of its continuing efforts to adopt global best practices.

► BOTSWANA: Air Botswana offloads an ATR72 as part of fleet renewal and regional expansion programme.

Botswana's national carrier, Air Botswana (BP), has put up one of its ATR72-500 aircraft for sale. Delivered new in 2009, (MSN: 788 | A2-ABS) is powered by 2 x PWC PW127F power-plants.

► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia announces numerous changes to its timetable from January 2013 onwards.

Air Namibia (SW) has announced various changes to its operational schedule. These changes are to take effect from 15 January 2013 onwards.

► BOTSWANA: Bluesky Airways launches charter ops; new website (at last).

Botswana's BlueSky Airways, on 14 October, flew its first commercial charter flight while today it finally launched its website - http://www.blueskyairways.co.bw - albeit 4 months after its original launch date of 9 July.

► BOTSWANA: Air Botswana planning Nairobi, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Cape Town, Lanseria flights from October onwards?

Reliable Zimbabwean aviation blog, Harare Airport Blogger, is reporting that Botswana's national carrier, Air Botswana (BP), is planning to launch various new regional routes with effect from 28 October 2012, though these reports have not yet officially been confirmed by Air Botswana itself.

► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia announces numerous changes to its timetable from October onwards.

As part of their strategy of efficient utilisation of their aircraft, Namibian carrier Air Namibia (SW) have again announced various changes to both their regional and international network, effective from October 2012 (the precise dates are subject to each individual post).

►► SOUTH AFRICA: SA Express increases Gaborone & George operations.

South African Express Airways (XZ), better known as SA Express, has announced, effective 2 September 2012, it’ll introduce a 6th daily operation on its Johannesburg – Gaborone, Bostwana route while domestically the airline will add a 4th weekly Cape Town – George, South Africa flight in addition to increasing its Johannesburg – George, South Africa route frequencies from 20x to 24x weekly.

► BOTSWANA: Air Botswana BAe146 suffers substantial engine damage following aborted take off in Gaborone.

On Saturday 11th August 2012, an Air Botswana (BP) Avro RJ85 (MSN# 1160 | A2-ABF) performing flight BP 205 from Gaborone, Botswana to Johannesburg, South Africa with 28 passengers aboard, suffered a #2 engine failure during its take off roll at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.

The Air Botswana BAe146 'A2-ABF' in happier times  (KeithB)

"During the take-off roll, one of the engines failed and it is reported that it spat out debris. It is the hot debris from the engine that caused a small grass fire adjacent to the runway. The commander of the aircraft, Captain Adam Kereng reported that indications in the flight deck showed a malfunction of the number two engine, and therefore the take-off was aborted in compliance with standard operating procedures for this type of failure.

Once the aircraft had stopped, the passengers were disembarked and taken to the terminal building where they were briefed on the exact nature of the problem, and also on the alternative aircraft that would be made available for them to complete their flights to Johannesburg."

Source [Air Botswana]

Passengers did however complain to the Botswana press after the incident, claiming that they were "made to wait for more than 10 minutes inside the aircraft which continued to produce a cloud of smoke" and subsequently, had "to wait another 40 minutes before a minibus picked them up, as no senior personnel at Air Botswana showed up to address them, except the airhostess who also looked panicky."

Passengers were rebooked onto other flights thereafter whilst the stricken Avro (also known as a Bae 146-100) was towed away to a hangar. Fortunately, the airline is due to receive another BAe146 in coming weeks as part of Air Botswana's fleet renewal plan.

The Botswana Accident Investigations Department at the Ministry of Transport is investigating the accident.
 

► NAMIBIA: Air Namibia announces sweeping changes to its African network.

As part of its efforts to rationalize its capacity and quality of service, Namibian flag carrier Air Namibia (SW) has announced various route changes to its Africa route network effective 5 August 2012.

■ BOTSWANA: Government fires Chinese firm Sinohydro over delays to Gaborone Airport Expansion project.

Fed up with continual delays and deadline setbacks, the Botswana Government has decided to fire the primary contractor on Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA) Expansion Project Phase 2, Chinese state construction firm Sinohydro, with 95% of the works completed.

► BOTSWANA: Bluesky Airways gearing up for service?

From info garnered from Botswanan charter company Bluesky Airways' website, it appears that  Air Botswana could be in for a run for its money in the very near future. Having recently performed proving flights with its leased Boeing 737-200 to Maun for the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB), and with a new website on its way for a 9 July launch, the airline seems to be gearing up for scheduled operations, given the green light from the CAAB. At present, the airline only offers a charter service.

► BOTSWANA: Air Botswana to get more planes; to increase Francistown - Johannesburg.

As Botswana's diamond exports continue to grow thus resulting in strong economic growth, so too is its local airline, Air Botswana (BP), experiencing an increase in demand. Francistown, in particular, has seen a resurgence in its mining industry after a disastrous slump in 2011 which saw global nickel prices take a drastic fall.

Air Botswana ATR 42 in Johannesburg

With its new airport completed in August 2011, there are plans to try and attract bigger regional players like Emirates and Kenya Airways to Francistown, and to eventually turn it into an airport busier than that of Gaborone, the capital.

Speaking in Francistown, Botswana's second largest city, the company's general manager, Sakhile Reiling, announced Air Botswana's intention to increase services between Francistown and Johannesburg which at present is operated twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday. She stated that there was strong demand from local mining outfits for the route, which aside from the aforementioned biweekly service, had necessitated a stop over in Gaborone.

""We have other flights that operate between Johannesburg and Gaborone on other days of the week. The problem is that they are not direct. They pass through Gaborone, that is why we want to introduce more direct flights between the two cities. We want to improve the convenience of doing business for the mines," she said."

Read More Here [MMegi Botswana]

To aid this future expansion, Reiling alluded to a recent deal, worth roughly USD$5.5million, for 2 as yet unknown aircraft from Europe, the first of which is due in July, the second, in September of this year. A further two aircraft are due next year.

Presently, Air Botswana operates a fleet of ATR 42s & 72s and a BAe 146.

The start of additional flights between Francistown and Johannesburg will however, be subject to approval with the South African government, with whom Botswana has a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA).

■ BOTSWANA: Open Skies deal signed; will Air Botswana survive more competition?

The Botswana Government has recently signed two Bilateral Air Services Agreements (BASA) with Mauritius in Gaborone agreements bringing to nine the number of BASAs signed - the other eight being with Belgium, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

► BOTSWANA: Air Botswana starts Maun – Cape Town from June 2012.

Air Botswana (BP) is to start Maun - Cape Town direct with effect from 1st June 2012, using their Bae146-300.

Chris Nkwe, the Public Relations Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana, says the opening of the routes marks a milestone in the growth of the industry in the country, “which is good for the economy of the country”.

“This is a perfect indication that the industry is growing in the country and it is a welcome thing that we appreciate,” he said.

Air Botswana: Maun, Botswana - Cape Town, South Africa
- Effective 1 June 2012

• BP231 MUB1525 – 1755CPT AV85 | 1234567
• BP232 CPT0945 – 1225MUB AV85 | 1234567

Read More Here & Here.