Air Botswana Axes Three Loss-Making Routes as New Board Drives Turnaround
Air Botswana has discontinued three regional routes following combined net losses of BWP 44.5 million (USD 3.3 million) over a nine-month period between November 2024 and July 2025. The scrapped services - Gaborone to Durban King Shaka, Gaborone to Windhoek International, and Maun to Cape Town International - were part of a regional expansion drive launched in late 2024. The cuts were announced by Botswana's transport minister Noah Salakae during the 2026 - 2027 budget presentation to the National Assembly, alongside news of a newly constituted board led by former Air Serbia CEO Dane Kondić and newly appointed General Manager Bao Mosinyi, previously CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana.
The airline's turnaround strategy encompasses a range of short and long-term interventions, including intensified charter operations, aircraft leasing, travel packages, expanded maintenance facilities, and a feasibility study for cargo operations. The government has allocated BWP 127 million (USD 9.3 million) to Air Botswana for 2026 - 2027, with a further BWP 233.7 million (USD 17.2 million) earmarked for civil aviation infrastructure. Fleet strategy remains under debate, with the minister indicating interest in small aircraft for thin domestic routes, while lawmakers are pushing for long-haul capacity to unlock international tourism and trade potential. On the infrastructure front, Botswana has certified Kasane as its third international airport, with upgrades planned for Maun and Gaborone's Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
Source: ch-aviation
