SUPPLY CHAIN years so that by 2020 all the planes will be new . “ We expect to see our maintenance and fuel costs going down significantly . We ’ ll also have a more attractive product that will sell better and boost revenues ,” he said . “ We believe this plan will improve our profitability to a point where we will no longer be reliant on subsidies .”
While he ’ d like to be able to purchase new aircraft that may not always be the best way to go . “ In our current model we operate six aircraft ,” he says . “ We needn ’ t say that we will replace them all in the same financial year though . If market conditions are favourable an outright purchase might be the best mode of acquisition . If we are less sure about traffic growth we can go for an operating lease .” Botswana has the highest credit rating of any African country , so would have no trouble leasing on favourable terms .
Addressing operational issues has to be done in partnership , he emphasises . The Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana ( CAAB ) manages the country ’ s airports , including Sir Seretse Khama International Airport at the capital Gaborone , and Francistown International Airport in the north east . A very close working relationship exists between these parastatals ( government owned entities operating as commercial concerns ), both reporting to the Minister of Transport .
The government has every reason to support AB . In 2014 tourism contributed 6.4 billion Pula ($ 650 million ) to the economy , said Dahwa . “ Within that figure , about two billion is traceable
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