Cemair has applied for four routes into Botswana and plans to apply for additional routes into other SADC countries and expand its domestic network in the first quarter of next year.

The routes applied for are Johannesburg to Gaborone, Maun and Kasane as well as Cape Town to Gaborone.

The applications for the routes were in the final phase, CEO Miles van der Molen told Tourism Update. He explained that the licences had been issued and the airline was just waiting for Botswana to designate the airline on the frequency on the route.

Cemair already operates flights from Cape Town to Gaborone on behalf of Air Botswana on a wet-lease basis. However, when the airline starts operating its own flights, it is likely to enter into a codeshare with Air Botswana.

In terms of the airline’s domestic expansion, Van der Molen said it would increase frequencies on the Bloemfontein route and also introduce new routes.

Cemair was also expanding its fleet, having recently taken delivery of a Bombardier Q400, while a CRJ 900 would be coming online soon too, said Miles.

There has been much talk of the acquisition of Air Botswana, but Van der Molen confirmed that while Cemair had submitted an expression of interest, it had not received feedback on this.