Africa-Press – Botswana. The national airline, Air Botswana has reportedly suffered major financial strain because of reduced travel particularly from Government and parastatals.
This was revealed in parliament by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Noah Salakae when responding to a question raised by Member of Parliament (MP) Oscar Mapulanga.
Mapulanga had asked why Air Botswana is failing to be profitable.
“The national airline is hard hit by the current slump and has experienced reduced passenger number and revenues as Government, Parastatals and Private companies clamp down on travel as austerity measures,” Salakae said.
Salakae’s revelation comes after government’s recent decision to impose drastic cost-cutting measures, including halving travel budgets and extending a ban on new purchase orders amid a severe revenue shortfall caused by plummeting diamond sales. The austerity directive, issued by the Ministry of Finance, Ndaba Gaolathe will remain in force until December 2025, when the situation will be reassessed.
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