15 Nov 2020

Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) is optimistic that aviation activities will be revived following pronouncement by the government to allow direct chartered international flights to Ngamiland and Chobe districts.

The pronouncement effected beginning of November this year.

CAAB public relations and communications manager, Mr Modipe Nkwe said in an interview that Maun International Airport received the first flight from Switzerland on Friday after seven months of movement restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The flight, he said arrived smoothly noting that all relevant authorities had put measures in place to ensure COVID-19 protocols were observed.

He noted that Maun airport had a rich aviation history given the tourism industry which accounted for majority of landing and take-offs, adding that they were expecting more flights as many countries had opened borders including South Africa where most tourists coming to Botswana connected.

Mr Nkwe was hopeful that going forward, all scheduled flights would return including the chartered flights and eventually the tourism industry would recover.

CAAB, he said, had a role to play in stimulating the economy, noting that their key role was to connect and facilitate tourism aviation. 

“CAAB is the key player in resuscitating the country’s economy and without our input, there will be little aviation activities,” he added.

He explained that tourism industry had contributed meaningfully to the economy of Maun as most employment in the Ngamiland region was generated from eco-tourism linked industries.

Passenger traffic numbers passing through the airport, he said reflected the level of economic activity generated within those industries. 

In addition, Mr Nkwe revealed that the earnings of people employed in the tourism industry were the major contributor to the local economy.

He also stated that COVID-19 had taught a lot of sectors a lesson and that they had to adapt to the new normal in order to remain relevant.

He also revealed that the Maun International Airport master plan would be reviewed so that it included any activity related to aviation industry.

The Maun airport is Currently undergoing renovation and the project is expected to be completed in March 2021.

The renovation project manager, Mr Mark Skelton also underscored the need to review the master plan to take emerging issues on board. 

The existing master plan, he said had been overtaken by developments as it was reviewed in 2006. 

Mr Skelton implored all key stakeholders to have an input during the review as the idea was to have a world class airport for the deltas. Ends