Air Botswana to commence Harare-Lusaka fifth freedom service, awaiting new aircraft and permits

Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi, in his 2019 State Of The Nation Address, reported (18-Nov-2019) the following developments for Air Botswana:

• The airline will commence operations to Harare and Lusaka, exercising fifth freedom rights between the cities;
• The carrier procured three of the four aircraft required "to effectively operate and deliver on its mandate", according to its 2016 to 2021 turnaround strategy. The two ATR 72-600s and one Embraer E170 have been integrated into operations;
• The airline is awaiting a foreign operator's permit from the governments of South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe to facilitate jet operations. [more - original PR]