25 May 2014

Botswana and the United States of America have signed a bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) to strengthen and expand the strong trade and tourism links between the two countries.

The new transportation agreement would enable the two governments to expand air service and lower the cost of flying for people travelling to and from Botswana.  The Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi and Charge’d’ Affaires in the American Embassy, Mr Michael Murphy signed the agreement dubbed ‘the Open Skies Agreement’ on Friday, May 23 in Gaborone.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Molefhi said the agreement was an integral part of the implementation of the Chicago Convention which called for each contracting state to give other contracting states the right to use the other state’s airspace as per the freedoms in encapsulated Convention.

He said the BASA would provide for the elimination of non-tariff barriers to trade, an integrated, seamless and effective air transport network that offers the best choices of connectivity at affordable fares for both passengers and cargo.

Mr Molefhi said Botswana was striving to bring its aviation infrastructure up to the required International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.

He further noted that recognising that the USA cooperation was indispensable to the realisation of national and international objectives of the civil aviation sector; Botswana was committed to ensure compliance with the ICAO standards in accordance with the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 1994.

For his part,  Mr Murphy said the Open Skies Agreement was the first step in literally shortening the distance that air carriers must travel to reach Botswana, an opportunity that could translate into lower costs, more air traffic and revenue for both countries. He said the agreement removed the limits on willing and able airlines from servicing passengers and shippers who were willing and able to pay.


The Open Skies agreement would also allow the countries’ respective air carriers to expand cooperative marketing arrangements, liberalise charter regulations, improve the airline operational flexibility and commit both countries to observing high standards of safety and security.

Mr Murphy noted that in the USA, they had seen benefits of Open Sky Agreements with countries throughout the world. These agreement, he said,had vastly expanded international passenger and cargo flights to and from the United States. “This has promoted increased travel and trade, enhanced productivity and spurred high-quality job opportunities and economic growth. By tapping into the U.S. market, this agreement opens up a potentially vast new source of trade and investment for Botswana,” he said. ENDS