The Botswanan government has launched a ‘diagnostic’ review of Air Botswana aimed at finding short-, medium- and long-term strategies for self-sustainability and eventual privatisation of the loss-making flag-carrier, according to acting gm, Mphi Tlhomelang.

She said the government last year had abandoned talks with Dublin-based consultants International Development Ireland (IDI) and Aer Arann to take on a three-year management contract of the airline in preparation for privatisation. Comair had earlier withdrawn its tender for the contract following a disagreement with the government over performance and financial guarantees. Tlhomelang said the government had instead mandated the airline’s board to fill vacant executive management positions – including that of gm – a process that she expected would be finalised soon. She said the current review encompassed a restructuring of the airline and a re-look at its fleet requirements. She confirmed that two new ATR 72-500 turbo-prop aircraft, purchased at a cost of R276m last year, were grounded at present but would not comment on the reason. Botswanan media reported that they were grounded because the airline, which does its own maintenance, did not have maintenance plans for the aircraft. She would not confirm reports that one of the airline’s three ATR-42s was also grounded because of technical problems, saying she would have to check with her principals in this regard. 
 
Air Botswana lost its Iata membership when it failed to meet the mandatory Iata Operational Safety Audit in December 2008. Tlhomelang said the airline had been given until December this year to comply and she was confident it would make the deadline. Air Botswana posted a loss of R94m (BWP 87m) in the 2008/9 financial year. Two previous privatisation attempts failed – one in 2003 involving Air Mauritius and Comair, the second in 2006 involving Airlink. In 2008 a Russian oligarch reportedly abandoned plans to invest in the airline.