Air Botswana has leased a BAe 146-100 from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft, doubling its fleet of the type. The airline’s ‘new’ 146, A2-ABF (msn E1160), was in fact built for Air Botswana in 1990 and delivered in 1991. When the airline’s ambitious regional expansion plans collapsed, it took advantage of a buy-back option to return the aircraft. In the intervening years, she flew for CityJet, Mistral Air, and National Jet Systems (NJS). She was ferried back from Australia in October, and after maintenance at Kemble departed on delivery to Air Botswana on 17 December. She will allow the airline to increase frequency on services from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Maun, in northern Botswana, which serves as the gateway to the tourist destinations in the Okavango Delta. Air Botswana also signed a JetSpares ‘spares by the hour’ support agreement covering both BAe 146s.
Recent news items on Air Botswana:
- Former Air Botswana BAe 146 parted out (2018-01-06)
- Ex Air Botswana Avro RJ85 airframe donated to non-profit (2017-09-30)
- Air Botswana BAe 146 ferried to the Philippines (2017-08-26)
- Air Botswana Avro RJ85s to be parted out (2016-08-06)
- Air Botswana puts its 146s up for auction (2015-05-22)