Earlier on Sunday 15th December, 2019 Qatar Airways flew from Doha to Gaborone, Botswana and landed at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport for the first time. His Excellency Slumber Tsogwane the Vice President of Botswana and Mr. Thulagano Segokgo the Minister of Transport and Communications greeted the flight upon landing at the airport.
Qatar Airways airline is making good on its promise to grow throughout the continent as it managed to launch its first inaugural flight in Gaborone, Botswana. This is Qatar Airways’ ninth new destination and third in Africa of the year (2019), adding on the already approved routes to Mogadishu, Somalia and Rabat the capital of Morocco. With Luanda of Angola to follow next year (2020).
This multiple award winning airline will operate a three times weekly service to the capital city of Botswana and is the only non African airline to fly to the country.
“I am delighted to add Gaborone to our global network of more than 160 destinations. Qatar Airways is committed to expanding its network in Africa, and this new route – our 23rd destination on the continent – is another step towards achieving that goal. We take great pride in being the first Middle Eastern airline to fly to Botswana and look forward to bringing tens of thousands of passengers to this wonderful country.” said, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways’ chief executive officer.
Operation of the Flight.
The airline will operate to Gaborone with its Airbus 350-900, featuring 36 seats in Business class and 247 seats in Economy class. Passengers can enjoy the next generation interactive on-board entertainment system, Oryx One, with a choice of up to 4,000 audio and video on demand options as well as complimentary Wi-Fi for passengers.
How Botswana will benefit from Qatar Airways’ new route?
According to Mr. Kabo Phutietsile, the acting Chief Executive Officer and Civil Aviation Authority Botswana, the country will benefit from this opportunity in a number of ways as listed below;
- The new route by Qatar Airways is expected to boost Botswana’s aviation industry and create employment opportunities and skills transfer for the aviation industry.
- The new route gives the country an opportunity to fully utilize and benefit from the investments in infrastructure improvement completed in the recent past.
- The arrival of Qatar will further boost and grow the Aviation industry and auxiliary industries.
- It will further allow for improved connectivity between Botswana and the Qatar many established routes and the spin-offs will facilitate growth of the Botswana economy.
