Air Botswana is represented in New Zealand by World Aviation Systems.

AIR BOTSWANA HISTORY

When the former Bechuanaland Protectorate achieved independence from Britain in 1966 and became the republic of Botswana, the concept of the new nation having its own airline was only a dream.

It would be more than twenty years before that dream became the reality of a national airline in the true sense.

But if it took a long time to turn plans into planes, the job was very well done. Today Air Botswana enjoys a wide reputation - quite disproportionate to its modest size - as a model, quality African airline.

After operating unprofitably for several years under different names, entirely dependent on Government support and outside expertise, the turning point came in April 1988 with the creation of Air Botswana Corporation as a parastatal entity under the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communications.

This was the birth of the national carrier.

With a bold vision of the future and the full backing of its shareholder, the Government, Air Botswana embarked on concerted development. Within five years it had acquired a fleet of modern aircraft, built excellent engineering, operations and administration facilities, adopted the rigorous UK Civil Aviation Authority operating standards, installed an international computer reservations system, and implemented a comprehensive citizen development programme throughout the organisation.

It is doubtful whether any other national airline in the world has been built, almost from scratch, so rapidly.

The fledgling carrier incurred losses over the next five years and the decision was taken in 1994 to reorganise and recapitalise Air Botswana in preparation for privatisation. At the same time a financial restructuring involving the write-off of accumulated losses and the conversion of Government debts into equity was approved.

Two conditions for this recapitalisation were that the airline must achieve profitability within two years and that it should then take steps for its own privatisation. Both requirements were met. In March 1997 the Air Botswana board approved the privatisation strategy, followed later that year by Government endorsement.

But the vision could not become a reality until March 2000 when Parliament approved the Draft Privatisation Policy for Botswana - Government Paper No.1 of 2000. This was the signal for the privatisation of Air Botswana to begin immediately and concertedly. Within weeks the agreement with the International Finance Corporation was signed.

As the private sector arm of the World Bank, the IFC promotes and assists the growth of the private sector in developing countries through the provision of financing and advisory services. Based in Washington, it is a multilateral agency of which Botswana is a member and is represented on the board.

The IFC plays a leading role in promoting privatisation in Africa. Its successes include acting as lead financial adviser in the successful privatisation of Kenya Airways in 1996, regarded as a model transaction.

REPUTATION FOR QUALITY

Air Botswana has earned an international reputation for reliability and quality of service.

The airline operates and maintains a modern fleet of three ATR42-500 advanced turbopropeller aircraft. These high-performance aircraft carry 46 passengers in jet-like standards of comfort.

In addition to its responsibilities as the domestic carrier, it operates regional services (Johannesburg, Harare, Victoria Falls) in full support of national development and the important tourism industry. The timetable is particularly attentive to the needs of the business and tourist passenger.

The airline contributes fully to the development of the tourism sector through its active membership of the Hotel and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) and its participation at major international travel shows. Important routes in support of the tourism industry are Air Botswana's direct service between Johannesburg and Maun, gateway to the great Okavango Delta, and between Johannesburg and Kasane on the Chobe River.

Air Botswana is an active member of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) and is a regular participant at meetings of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the governing body of world aviation, and other international industry forums.

On the ground, the airline's reputation for excellence extends to the modern engineering hangar at Sir Seretse Khama Airport where Air Botswana technical staff carry out full maintenance not only on the home fleet but also on the aircraft of other African carriers. This capability attracts contract work from ATR operators in Zambia, Malawi, Kenya and Tanzania, contributing significantly to revenue.

Air Botswana is firmly committed to citizen development within the airline family, with a comprehensive programme of ongoing staff training.

As the national carrier, the airline associates itself fully with the society in which it operates and is supportive of a wide range of community endeavor.