Air Botswana To Receive Two Planes

National-flag carrier Air Botswana took delivery this week of its first new ATR 72-500, in accordance with a deal for two ATR 72-500s inked last year and valued at roughly US $37 million. The carrier will add its new ATR 72-500s to its current fleet of three ATR 42-500s, operating the new turboprops on routes previously operated by regional jets that become unprofitable.  

"The introduction of these new ATR 72-500 aircraft responds to our need to increase our route coverage and to provide more frequencies to our passengers," said L.M. Bantsi, Acting General Manager of Air Botswana. "There is a strong development of the regional air transportation in Botswana and we are committed to match this opportunity with larger capacity ATRs."

Stéphane Mayer, ATR CEO, underlined "the very strong commonality between both the ATR 42-500 and the ATR 72-500, which will ease the introduction of the new aircraft into the fleet of Air Botswana. Such commonality will also represent a significant reduction in training and spares investments as well as ongoing operating costs." He added: "The ATR aircraft are playing an important role in the development of the regional air connectivity in the whole African continent. We count today more than 80 aircraft being operated by some 25 carriers. This reflects the suitability of the ATR aircraft for some specific operating conditions in the continent, including hot and high environments and small and remote airfields." 

Since the beginning of the program, ATR has sold 979 aircraft -- 420 ATR 42s and 559 ATR 72s).

FMI: www.atraircraft.com, www.airbotswana.co.bw