Dedicated Jo’burg-Gabs freighter mooted

Air Botswana is working
towards re-introducing a
dedicated cargo f light next
year between Gaborone
and Johannesburg after
operations were suspended
due to the non-availability
of a suitable aircraft.
According to Molefi
Kgautlhe, the airline’s
assistant manager cargo
services, growing its
freighter services is a top
priority despite current low
volumes.
“We have experienced a
decrease of 8% compared
to the same period last year
(January to September),”
Kgautlhe told FTW. “This
is mainly due to capacity
and equipment constraints.
Also significant has been
the decline in point-topoint
cargo between
Johannesburg and
Gaborone due to road
competition.”
According to Kgautlhe,
with Gaborone in such close
proximity to Johannesburg
many shippers prefer to
ship their cargo by road
rather than air.
“Probably one of our
biggest challenges is to
convince cargo owners
to move their volumes by
air,” he said. “At present,
most of our cargo comes
from our interlining
partners, transiting in
Johannesburg.”
He said despite low
volumes the airline
continued to invest in new
ground support equipment
that allowed it to handle
any type of aircraft.
“And we are working
round the clock to
re-introduce a dedicated
cargo freighter next year,”
he said. “We are currently
using commercial f lights
to uplift cargo on our
route network. We used
to operate a cargo f light
between Johannesburg
and Gaborone on Tuesdays
and Fridays and it is most
likely that we will maintain
the same schedule once the
operation of a dedicated
cargo f light resumes. We
will increase the frequency
based on the demand.”