15 Mar 2020

In view of the depressed passenger travel patterns as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, Air Botswana has modified its flight schedule.

The airline’s public relations and communication manager, Ms Kefilwe Kebafetotse stated in an interview that the schedule modification was in line with low business activity being experienced.

She said given Air Botswana’s feeder status and reliance on other airlines, the airline anticipated an adverse impact.

Ms Kebafetotse said the March situation was along global trends owing to cancellations or postponement of travel by businesses, government sector employees and traders.

She decried the cancellation of major events around the world, saying continuation of the trend painted a bleak future in the short-term.

Ms Kebafetotse also noted that the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had forecasted global airline revenue losses of between P630 billion and P1 130 billion, up from the previous estimate of about P290 billion, stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak.

She said Air Botswana was taking extra steps above and beyond industry and regulatory requirements to ensure its customers’ health and comfort as well as providing them with confidence and peace of mind when planning their travel.

The airline, she said, had formed a rapid response committee to supplement the existing airport steering committee. She added that passengers would soon experience modifications to boarding procedures.

She said the airline’s health precautionary efforts were aligned to those of key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB).

Air Botswana, she explained, was implementing its operational manual on managing communicable diseases which included screening at all airports for international arrivals, adding that crews were trained on managing passengers who may exhibit symptoms of communicable diseases. Ms Kebafetotse said emphasis was on universal precautionary measures on preventing the spread of COVID-19, including hand hygiene, provision of masks, gloves and sanitizers to frontline staff and crew as well as enabling them to safely aid where necessary.

In addition, she said there was consistent spraying of aircraft cabins with insecticides for control of micro-organisms accompanied by thorough cleaning of aircraft in between turn-around processes. She stated that the airline remained committed to ensuring customer safety and that it would continue monitoring the situation as well as implementing the national response as guided by WHO. ENDs