Cape Town Air Access Celebrates New Milestones with Air Botswana’s Expanded Network
- Air Botswana will introduce a new service from Kasane, a new destination for Cape Town's route network, operating 3 times per week. With the addition of Kasane, Cape Town is now connected to 16 African destinations.
- Air Botswana will increase frequencies on its existing Gaborone - CPT route from 3 to 5 frequencies per week as well as operate a new service from Maun with 3 frequencies per week.
- Botswana is the fifth largest passenger market for Cape Town in Southern Africa, with a 21% growth in passenger numbers in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
Cape Town Air Access, powered by Wesgro, is pleased with the recent announcement that Air Botswana will be adding significant capacity to its Cape Town route network facilitating greater business and leisure travel between the two destinations.
Starting from 1 November 2024, Air Botswana will introduce several changes to its Cape Town schedule. Most notably, the carrier will introduce a new direct service connecting Kasane to Cape Town with three flights per week. The addition of Kasane marks the 11th African destination to be added to Cape Town's route network since the start of the Cape Town Air Access project in 2015. The new service increases Cape Town and the Western Cape's connectivity to 16 destinations across the continent.
In addition, Air Botswana will increase frequencies on its existing Gaborone-Cape Town connection from three to five per week as well as launch a new route service connecting Maun to Cape Town, with three flights per week. Gaborone is Cape Town's best-performing city in Botswana, with over 28 000 passengers recorded in 2023. Maun, which ranks second behind Gaborone, has also seen incredible growth with a year-on-year growth of 30% in two-way passengers for 2023. Maun - Cape Town currently has a daily Airlink flight, however, the addition of Air Botswana's service will increase capacity on the route to a total of ten flights per week.
In total, Air Botswana's added frequencies will increase Cape Town's connectivity to Botswana from 10 to 18 flights per week between the two destinations. Botswana is Cape Town's fifth largest two-way passenger market in Southern Africa, with over 57 000 passengers recorded in 2023 which represents a 21% growth when compared to the same period in 2022. As such, this increase in capacity is set to further strengthen ties between the two regions, promoting increased trade, tourism, and cultural exchange.
"The expansions by Air Botswana are expected to significantly boost the connectivity between the destinations, contributing to the economic growth of both regions. The inclusion of Kasane as a new regional connection within Cape Town's route network is a testament to the project's success in expanding Cape Town and the Western Cape's reach across the continent. This development reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering economic growth through strategic partnerships and enhanced connectivity," stated Wrenelle Stander, Wesgro CEO and Official Spokesperson for Cape Town Air Access.
Commenting on the development, MEC Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Provincial Minister for Economic Development and Agriculture, said "We are thrilled about this venture, as it will open up new business investment opportunities. The enhanced connectivity is expected to significantly boost tourism - a key driver for the Western Cape and the broader economy - while also creating potential trade opportunities.
“Tourism, one of the industries that experienced rapid growth following the COVID-19 pandemic, plays a crucial role in the region. The Western Cape's significant domestic tourism market adds to its resilience, helping the industry smooth out seasonally induced fluctuations," he further added
Alderman James Vos, the City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, said "At the City of Cape Town, we take great pride in funding the Air Access Programme, as it directly supports our economic growth mission. This new flight from Botswana to Cape Town exemplifies our commitment to connecting with key markets across Africa. By enhancing our aviation links, we stimulate trade and travel, fostering greater economic activity and creating positive spinoffs for our local economy. We are excited about the opportunities this new route brings and the continued growth it will drive for Cape Town and our African partners."
"We are excited to welcome Air Botswana's new and expanded routes, which will greatly enhance Cape Town International Airport’s connectivity with the region. The introduction of Kasane to our network, coupled with increased flights from Gaborone and the new service to Maun, offers our passengers greater accessibility and convenience. Our commitment remains steadfast in providing an exceptional airport experience as we support these new connections and facilitate seamless transit for travellers between these key destinations," added Mark Maclean, Regional General Manager for Cape Town International Airport.
About the Project:
Cape Town Air Access is a global award-winning air-route development project, acting as the focal point for pro-active air route development, for both passengers and air cargo, in Cape Town and the Western Cape. The project is powered by Wesgro - The Tourism, Trade & Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, and through a multi-party collaborative effort between six government entities and the private sector, we strive to improve air connectivity and capacity for the Western Cape province, in a sustainable manner, whilst increasing economic competitiveness and job creation.
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