Botswana's national carrier, facing governance instability, accumulated losses, and government bailouts while operating a reduced flight schedule.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Botswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Pilot says fatigue concerns grounded Air Botswana flight Air Botswana’s former captain Benedict Gaborakanelwe has hit back at the national carrier’s claim that he unlawfully refused to operate a Johannesburg flight. …
Pilot says fatigue concerns grounded Air Botswana flightMmegi
… Air Botswana alleges that his failure to operate what it describes as his final rostered Johannesburg flight resulted in the cancellation of services, forcing the airline to rebook passengers, pay for hotel accommodation and absorb lost ticket revenue. …
Former Air Botswana captain denies liability over cancelled Jo’burg flightBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Air Botswana sues pilot over cancelled Johannesburg flight Air Botswana has filed a legal application against a former captain accused of failing to report for his final rostered flight before leaving the airline. …
Air Botswana sues pilot over cancelled Johannesburg flightBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Air Botswana puts route expansion on hold as fuel costs rise Air Botswana has suspended plans to expand into new markets and revive previously closed routes, citing rising jet fuel prices and growing pressure on operating costs. …
Air Botswana puts route expansion on hold as fuel costs riseDaily News Botswana
… ad already committed support, including Inum Properties with P75 000, Knockout Cash & Carry with P70 000, Emergency 911 through medical coverage assistance valued at P95 000, Leap Frog through the provision of LED screens, ITIQ with IT services valued at P160 000 and Air Botswana …
Africa Aquatics zone IV championships come to BotswanaThe Botswana Gazette
Three months after taking office, the airline’s chief executive laid bare mounting losses, debt pressures and fleet challenges before Parliament on Monday GAZETTE REPORTER Air Botswana recorded its highest revenue during the period under review at P330 million at the end of 2024, …
Air Botswana’s Mounting Financial StrainBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Newly appointed Air Botswana board not quorate amid resignations Air Botswana has operated for nearly six years without a stable governing structure, according to the airline’s general manager Dr. …
Newly appointed Air Botswana board not quorate amid resignationsMmegi
Last year, Air Botswana welcomed the Embraer E175, in what the then-management labelled as a push for regional expansion with the opening of new routes such as Gaborone-Cape Town. …
Air Botswana to lease out jets as financial pressures mountThe Botswana Gazette
The governance paralysis has also seen the airline fall behind on statutory reporting obligation BONGANI MALUNGA Years of governance instability at Air Botswana have left the struggling state-owned airline scrambling to reconcile overdue financial reports, with audited accounts s …
Governance Rot Leaves Air Botswana Playing Catch-Up on FinancialsMmegi
At Monday’s Parliamentary Committee on Statutory Bodies and State-Owned Enterprises, where Air Botswana was the first to appear, it was revealed that for the financial years between December 2021 and December 2025, the airline was supported by the government with over half a bill …
Air Botswana’s missing millionsAir Botswana's former captain Benedict Gaborakanelwe has disputed the national carrier's claim that he unlawfully refused to operate a Johannesburg flight, arguing he was following aviation safety procedures designed to prevent fatigued pilots from flying.
14 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Air Botswana's former captain Benedict Gaborakanelwe has disputed the national carrier's claim that he unlawfully refused to operate a Johannesburg flight, arguing he was following aviation safety procedures designed to prevent fatigued pilots from flying.
14 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
A former Air Botswana captain has filed a court defence rejecting the airline's claim that he owes P249,355.39 in damages for refusing to operate a Johannesburg flight on June 21, 2026, after his resignation. Air Botswana alleges his refusal to operate his final rostered flight caused cancellation of services, forcing the airline to rebook passengers and cover accommodation and lost revenue.
13 July 2026 · Mmegi →
Air Botswana has filed a legal application against former captain Benedict Dumelang Gaborakanelwe for failing to report for his final rostered flight, resulting in the cancellation of a Johannesburg service and stranding dozens of passengers. The airline is claiming P249,355.39 in damages for passenger re-bookings, hotel accommodation costs, and lost ticket revenue.
6 July 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Air Botswana has suspended plans to expand into new markets and revive previously closed routes due to rising jet fuel prices and growing operating cost pressure. The national carrier will introduce a temporary fuel surcharge on all ticket sales from April 21, 2026, to help offset higher fuel expenses.
15 June 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana will host the Africa Aquatics Zone IV Championships from September 2–5, 2026, bringing together Southern African aquatic athletes, coaches, and officials for regional competition. The BSSA president said the event represents a significant milestone and testifies to Botswana's reputation for hosting world-class sporting events.
9 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Three months after taking office, Air Botswana's chief executive reported mounting losses, debt pressures and fleet challenges to Parliament on Monday, even as the airline recorded its highest revenue of P330 million at the end of 2024.
18 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
Air Botswana's newly appointed board is not quorate amid resignations. The airline's general manager says the airline has operated nearly six years without a stable governing structure, weakening oversight and disrupting operations at the national carrier.
18 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Air Botswana will lease out its Embraer E175 and E170 aircraft to other airlines to generate short-term revenue amid mounting financial difficulties. The airline's new General Manager told Parliament the carrier operates a two-flight schedule requiring three aircraft but currently holds six.
18 May 2026 · Mmegi →
Years of governance instability have left Air Botswana struggling to reconcile overdue financial reports, with audited accounts still stuck in 2022 amid a leadership vacuum and collapsed reporting structures.
16 May 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
A Parliamentary Committee heard that Air Botswana received government support exceeding half a billion pula between December 2021 and December 2025, alongside additional bailouts and unused loans. Peak revenue reached P330 million at end of 2024, with the highest net loss at P230 million, prompting the General Manager to describe the airline as "a cash-losing machine."
13 May 2026 · Mmegi →
Air Botswana has operated with persistent governance failures, board instability, and lack of executive leadership over the past five years, Parliament heard. The airline's general manager disclosed that for five consecutive years the board was either incomplete or could not form a quorum, delaying key decisions and weakening oversight, while six board positions are currently filled on an acting basis.
12 May 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana's parastatals including the Botswana Meat Commission, Air Botswana, and Botswana Postal Services have failed to honour repayment obligations on government loans totalling more than P1.6 billion, with the Auditor General raising concerns over weak oversight and broken repayment agreements.
11 May 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana's aviation sector is undergoing expansion to attract international carriers including Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. The Civil Aviation Authority plans to expand the Kasane runway and construct a new airport in Maun within three to five years to address capacity constraints and enhance connectivity to the northern region.
29 April 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana has warned that a new fuel surcharge introduced by Air Botswana risks undermining the already fragile tourism sector by adding cost pressure at a time when demand remains uneven.
27 April 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →