Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana scored slightly over 80 per cent in last year’s international civil aviation security audit surpassing the global average of 67.7 per cent, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has revealed.
“Botswana scored 80.1 per cent and this is an increase of 19 per cent from the previous score of 61.07 per cent attained in May 2018,” he told guests at the official opening of the refurbished Maun International Airport terminal building on Friday.
Explaining that the audits ensured that the country maintained its compliance with international aviation standards, he said a score of 75.98 per cent, which was an increase of 10.96 per cent from the previous score of 65.02 per cent, was attained in May 2016.
President Masisi said another achievement was the certification of Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, adding that plans were underway to certify Maun International Airport during the first quarter of this year.
All signified that safety and security remained at the top of the country’s priorities in the aviation sector, he said.
The President pointed out that Maun airport was one of the busiest regionally in terms of landings and take-offs.
In 2021, it recorded over 110 000 passengers with the number increasing to over 200 000 between January and October the following year, he said.
President Masisi said the figures showed that Botswana needed international standards airport facilities to strengthen its comparative advantage in the global economy.
He said efforts continued to entice passengers and operators to consider Maun as a destination of choice.
In 2021, he said, the Ministry of Transport and Public Works approved Fastjet, a Zimbabwean carrier, to operate scheduled flights into Maun.
“Fastjet commenced operations between Maun and Victoria Falls on June 30, 2022,” he said, adding that government had intensified efforts to lure more international airlines and to support local carriers to expand operations.
Turning to the terminal building project, President Masisi said air transport infrastructure was a major enabler in the country’s socio-economic development.
Air travel made it easier for people, commodities and services to move between rural areas, towns, cities and countries and an efficiently functioning airport terminal was the critical hub of all these movements, he said.
Giving details of the project, he said it was an upgrade of an old building which was officially opened in 1996.
Since the airport had seen an upsurge in aviation activities prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, the runway was also extended to 3.7 kilometres to accommodate big aircraft.
He said the refurbished terminal building was capable of processing 270 passengers per hour.
“It provides sufficient space to accommodate passenger circulation of around 1.5 square metre per passenger,” he said.
Dr Masisi said the expansion would facilitate the expected increase in the number of tourists visiting the Okavango Delta as well as people who came to do business in Maun.
For his part, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale said the project was delayed by the outbreak of COVID-19 which resulted in cost overruns of 15 per cent.
He urged Maun residents to take care of the airport facilities and not to vandalise them.
In her welcome remarks, Batawana regent, Kgosi Kealetile Moremi called for the provision of quality services at the airport to earn the country a good reputation globally.
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