CAAB granted Air Botswana, Air Namibia and South African Airways Airlink increased frequency of inward and outward flights to Botswana and flights to Namibia and flights to South Africa.
Starting June 2012, there will be a Johannesburg-Maun-Johannesburg flight seven times per week by SAA Airlink.
CAAB also announced approval of Air Namibia to fly into Gaborone from Windhoek thrice weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) on top of the already operational Windhoek-Maun route.
The new route starts May 15.
In addition, the Aeronautical Authority of South Africa has approved Air Botswana to have three flights weekly between Maun and Cape Town. These should start on June 1. Air Botswana presently flies to Lusaka, Johannesburg and Harare.
CAAB spokesperson, Modipe Nkwe, said direct connections to Botswana would reduce inconveniences to passengers who currently have to connect through other cities. Nkwe said international visitors headed to Maun more than other parts of Botswana.
Official statistics indicate Maun Airport is one of the busiest in the region and it is undergoing refurbishment, as it is the gateway to one of the biggest deltas in the world; the Okavango Delta – a prime tourism destination. CAAB expanded the Maun Airport runway to allow bigger craft, such as the Boeing 737, to use the facility. Air Botswana’s GM, Sakhile Reiling, said the changes were part of the airline’s turnaround strategy.
“Firstly, we must get compliance and staffing qualification levels sorted out. Secondly, in line with our expansion, work on infrastructure will need to be done in terms of machinery such as aircraft and equipment.”