BOTSWANA: Botswana Tourism Organisation To Host Gaborone International Airshow

For the second time this year the public is set to be treated to a day of incredible aerobatic displays as the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) hosts the Gaborone International Airshow.

The event, schedule for Saturday September 24 at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKA), is set to celebrate the input the aviation sector has made to the development of the tourism industry for the past 50 years.

“Through the Airshow, we are also looking to recognise those who have contributed to aviation in Botswana through the years,” said BTO’s Marketing Manager, Julian Blackbeard when launching the event on Tuesday.

She said there would be displays during the event which would showcase the local aviation history. Blackbeard said the event would feature up to 50 aircraft-fighter jets, helicopters, gliders, and among others.

Not to be seen to be competing with the existing annual Matsieng Airshow, Blackbeard clarified that BTO’s Gaborone International Airshow is just a once-off event to celebrate 50 years of aviation in Botswana.

“In fact we are working with Matsieng Airshow organisers for this event,” she said. She pointed out that they were also trying, through the Airshow, to engage young people and cultivate their interest in flying.

“We have invited 800 unprivileged children and orphans from various communities including SOS, Childline Botswana and Stepping Stones to join us at the air show.”

She said activities during day would include the story of aviation through the years (Hall of Fame), Static Aircraft – display of aircrafts operating in and around Botswana and some invited aircrafts. “It will give the public an opportunity to view the planes closer and board some of them. “It’s not only about celebrating aviation, but bringing aviation to the youth through edutainment,” Blackbeard said, adding that ”we live with aviation every day and yet some feel it is beyond their reach. This Airshow is about making aviation accessible to everyone”.

She promised the public would get to see exciting displays performed by skydivers, the world’s top aerobatic (both individual and formation displays), high speed jets, amazing stunts including aeroplanes and motorbikes combined, as well as roof top landing on a moving vehicle (which was also displayed at this year’s WesBank International Airshow at Matsieng Aerodrome), ending with the Harvard Formation fly-by at dusk. It remains to be seen if the once-off Gaborone International Airshow will live up to expectations.

BOTSWANA: Botswana’s Capacity Grows By 3.3% In 12 Years; South Africa Is Top Country Market

Known for its fast-growing economy and for being home of Amantle Montsho (400-metre gold medallist at Daegu 2011 World Championships and at Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games), Botswana is also an African aviation hot-spot, being served by four international airports this February.

While it is home to an estimated population of 2.2 million inhabitants, Botswana covers an area of 581,730 square kilometres (around the size of Ukraine). In fact, Botswana is one of the most sparsely populated nations in the world, with around 10% of its population living in the capital city, Gaborone. Previously known as the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. Being classified as one of the poorest countries in the world once, having a GDP per capita of around $70 per year in late 1960s, the country has since emerged into one of the fastest-growing economies. As of 2013, Botswana had a GDP per capita of around $16,400 per annum according to the Central Intelligence Agency.

The aviation sector played a significant role in this rapid economic growth, with Botswana being served by four commercial airports according to Innovata schedule data for February 2015, of which Gaborone (perhaps better known as Sir Seretse Khama International Airport) controls around 66% of the country’s scheduled seat capacity. With all four airports offering international services, Gaborone is the main gateway to the country as it offers a combined 86 weekly flights to Cape Town, Harare, Johannesburg, Lusaka and Nairobi.

Annual capacity down 3.1% in 2015
Examination of Innovata annual capacity for this February reveals that around 502,000 one-way seats may be offered on air services involving Botswana airports in 2015, which may account for a decline of 3.1% when compared to 2014 figures, assuming that there are no significant changes in carriers’ schedules. Nevertheless, this figure is likely to alter as airlines may introduce or cancel services over the following 11 months. Based on schedules currently filed, domestic traffic is expected to register a decrease rate of 8.1%, while the international sector may go down by only 1.5%.



Looking at annual seat figures between 2004 and those currently posted for 2015, the combined capacity of the four Botswana airports grew with an average annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3%, with the international sector (+4.2%) outperforming the domestic market (+0.8%). Also interestingly, the international sector may increase by 64%, while the domestic one may go up 10% in 2015, when looking back 12 years to 2004. Not surprisingly considering the country’s political and economic instability in recent years, Botswana’s air traffic market saw an uneven development in the 2004-2015 timeframe.
Air Botswana bosses Botswana with 58% and 61% of seats and flights

As of February 2015, Botswana is served by five airlines, with the national carrier Air Botswana being the dominant player in this country market, as it controls 58% and 61% of all weekly seats and flights respectively. This week, Air Botswana operates a total of 16 airport pairs, of which eight of them are international routes. Johannesburg is the flag carrier’s most frequently served international destination, being served with 47 weekly flights from Gaborone, Maun, Kasane and Francistown.
South Africa is top country market

A total of six country markets can be reached non-stop from Botswana according to Innovata schedule data for this February. At around 7,149 weekly seats and 3.1% more than in the corresponding week last year, neighbouring South Africa tops the list of country markets served, with a combined 107 weekly flights operated by Air Botswana and South African Airways. In addition, the domestic sector accounts for 25% of all weekly capacity, being served by only Air Botswana with 40 weekly flights.


Zambia is a new entrant into this year’s ranking, owing to Air Botswana adding twice-weekly flights on the 1,065-kilometre sector from Gaborone to Lusaka over the past 12 months.