KQ announces launch of flights to Botswana

As other airline’s cut back on capacity, frequencies and withdraw from destinations due to the ongoing slump in the travel market Kenya Airways is forging ahead by expanding to new territories in the region.

The airline has announced the commencement of flights to Gaborone, Botswana. From September 4 the national carrier will fly south 3 times a week after a breakthrough in negotiations that had seen the flights earlier postponed.

Kenya had some difficulties attaining permission from the Botswana government to land in the city. However, this was resolved leading to Kenya Airways entering into a code sharing agreement with the country’s national carrier, Air Botswana.

“Without Air Botswana cooperation, this would not have been possible,” said Mr Dick Omondi, Kenya Airways marketing and communications manager.

For Air Botswana, which began operations in 1972, this is an opportunity to expand in the region as the airline will be able to tap into Kenya Airways’ network.

“Air Botswana wanted to expand but did not have the capability in terms of planes, we were looking for a partner to implement our expansion programme” Ms Hellen Chilisa, Air Botswana’s marketing manager, said.

Botswana and Kenya have been trying to revive air links for a long time now as they were severed in the early 1990s due to the route being un-profitable.

Today, the growth of the city has seen Kenya Airways making moves to tap into the growing market especially providing a major link for business travellers in the southern city to other destinations in the region and beyond.

The airline has its eye on flying to every capital city on the continent using Nairobi as a hub. It recently increased frequencies on its high demand routes like Kigali, Mombasa and Bujumbura in addition to eyeing other markets.

In a press briefing last week the airline’s chief operating officer, Mr Bram Steller, said that the airline’s diverse network was cushioning the impact the ongoing slow down that has hit the aviation sector.

“It is hitting us but not with the full force due to our diversity,” he said.

Botswana is Kenya Airways 35th destination in Africa. It will operate the Boeing 737’s on the route three times a week with a stop over in Lusaka to Gaborone and through Harare on the flight back. The introductory ticket will cost $550 (Sh42,350).