P355.9m Fleet Renewal Falters

Only half of Air Botswana’s six aircraft are operational despite P355.9 million spent on fleet renewal over five years, leaving losses and disruptions unresolved. Air Botswana’s P355.9 million fleet modernisation programme has yet to deliver the promised operational turnaround, with Parliament hearing that the national airline continues to suffer persistent flight disruptions and operating losses. Responding to a question from Serowe South MP Leepetswe Lesedi in the National Assembly on Monday, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Noah Salakae acknowledged that the fleet renewal programme had not produced the expected financial and operational returns.

Salakae revealed that only three of the airline’s six aircraft are currently operational, forcing Air Botswana to reduce its schedule to match the limited fleet available. One Embraer E170 remains grounded while awaiting an engine overhaul and a mandatory 15,000-hour C-Check. Two Embraer ERJ145 aircraft are in Namibia awaiting engine and Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) repairs.

“Over the past five (5) years, Air Botswana has invested approximately BWP355.9 million in fleet renewal as part of its fleet modernisation programme. The investment included the acquisition of two Embraer ERJ145 aircraft and one Embraer E175 aircraft to improve operational reliability, increase network flexibility and reduce the average age of the fleet,” Salakae told Parliament. However, the minister conceded that the investment had yet to translate into improved financial performance.

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“While this investment has strengthened the airline’s long-term operational capability, the financial benefits have not yet been fully realised due to a combination of operational challenges, including aircraft groundings, global supply chain constraints affecting maintenance, rising operating costs, and the continued recovery of the aviation industry following the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the airline has continued to record operating losses during this period despite the strategic investment in fleet renewal.” In 2024, Air Botswana spent P131.33 million to procure two Embraer ERJ145 aircraft through a restricted international competitive bidding process after Embraer supplied a list of prospective aircraft brokers. The first aircraft cost P64.55 million and the second P65.78 million.

The procurement costs included maintenance work and repainting before delivery. Both aircraft were grounded within months of entering service. The first ERJ145 was grounded on 17 August 2025, followed by the second on 6 September 2025, after the airline failed to secure funding for critical engine and APU repairs. Salakae attributed the prolonged groundings to financial constraints, saying the lack of funds had significantly delayed the aircraft’s return to service and worsened the airline’s operational problems.

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