Air Botswana has indefinitely delayed the launch of its Gaborone-Windhoek-Durban service, which was originally scheduled to commence on October 1.

The Namibia Airports Company has attributed the delay to unforeseen circumstances.

Air Botswana told Tourism Update that the delay was due to two factors: a delay in the delivery of the aircraft intended for the route, and the process of adding the new aircraft to its Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

“We have explored and implemented all possible avenues to minimise the effect on our passengers. Air Botswana is working closely with the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana to expedite the processes required for adding this aircraft to the carrier’s AOC and successfully launching these routes,” the airline said.

Air Botswana  is working with travel agents to provide alternative travel arrangements for affected passengers to ensure that they can complete their journeys as planned.

The Namibia Airports Company has advised travellers who intended to use Air Botswana’s service to Windhoek to consider alternatives such as FlySafair's new flights or South African Airways’ additional capacity on the route.

FlySafair will begin operating a twice-weekly service between Cape Town International Airport and Hosea Kutako International Airport in Windhoek on October 22. SAA plans to add a third daily frequency between Johannesburg and Windhoek, starting October 27.