State-owned airline facing persistent financial losses, governance failures, pilot shortages, and fleet operational challenges despite government support exceeding half a billion pula.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The 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 millionsDaily News Botswana
The national carrier, Air Botswana, has been operating on auto pilot for the past five years due to persistent governance failures, board instability and the absence of executive leadership, Parliament has heard. …
Governance Failures Ground Air BotswanaBotswana Sunday Standard
… Government-owned entities including the Botswana Meat Commission, Air Botswana and Botswana Postal Services have failed to honour repayment obligations running into hundreds of millions of pula, according to the latest report by Auditor General Keneilwe Senyarelo. …
Auditor General Flags P1.6 Billion in Troubled State LoansDaily News Botswana
… Looking ahead, the next phase will target priority markets such as the United States and Europe, while also strengthening the operations of Air Botswana to ensure a balanced and sustainable route network. …
Aviation ambitions soarBotswana Sunday Standard
Sunday Standard Air Botswana price hike raises fresh fears for tourism The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) has warned that a new fuel surcharge introduced by Air Botswana risks undermining an already fragile tourism sector, adding cost pressure at a time w …
Air Botswana price hike raises fresh fears for tourismAir Botswana has announced plans to appoint Dubai-based aviation consultancy ACC Aviation ME FZCO as its aircraft lease consultant through direct procurement.
7 September 2026 · Weekend Post →
Air Botswana has announced plans to appoint Dubai-based aviation consultancy ACC Aviation ME FZCO as its aircraft lease consultant through direct procurement.
7 September 2026 · Weekend Post →
Noah Salakae, recently a cabinet minister overseeing Transport and Infrastructure, is scheduled to appear before a magistrate court on August 28 on corruption charges following a DCEC investigation. The charges allege he received roughly 1.6 million pula in cash, a Toyota Fortuner valued at 575,000 pula, and bush-clearing services in exchange for influence over a 1.45 billion pula government contract awarded to Tau Grading and Construction for construction of the Ghanzi-New Xade road; Salakae has rejected all allegations.
25 August 2026 · Weekend Post →
Air Botswana's financial troubles extend beyond grounded aircraft and cancelled flights; the state-owned airline is years behind in publishing audited financial statements, raising transparency questions as it has spent hundreds of millions of pula on fleet renewal while posting operating losses.
12 August 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Only half of Air Botswana's six aircraft are operational despite P355.9 million spent on fleet renewal over five years, leaving the airline with persistent flight disruptions and losses unresolved.
7 August 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
Air Botswana has attributed persistent flight delays and cancellations to a worsening pilot shortage following 11 cockpit crew resignations during the first six months of 2026, compounded by delayed recurrent training and expired licences.
7 August 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
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 →