TWO African airlines are
looking to expand operations
with direct flights to Cape
Town.
Botswana-based BlueSky
Airways is eyeing the
Gaborone-Cape Town route for
its maiden commercial flight at
the end of the year.
BlueSky Airways, which
has operated as a charter
carrier since 2012, applied
for its Air Operator Certificate
in July this year. Ceo, Mark
Spicer, says he hopes to
obtain the AOC by the end of
September. “Our intention is
to operate within two to three
months of certification. This
depends on approval of some
of the routes, as there are
international requirements that
need to be met.”
Mark says he has opted for
Cape Town as the airline’s
inaugural destination because
there was no direct route
to the Mother City when he
started the BlueSky project
in 2010. “We feel that there
is a market for this route.
The aircraft we are using,
the B737, is perfect for the
Gaborone -Cape Town route.”
Over time, Mark hopes to
establish Gaborone as a
regional hub. He says although
it would be impossible to
surpass Johannesburg, a
satellite hub in Botswana
could have huge potential.
“Gaborone has a very good
geographical location in the
centre of Southern Africa.
Botswana is a progressive
country with a stable economy.
Many international businesses
have moved their headquarters
to Gaborone, which means
there is a lot of business travel
through Gaborone. Additionally
tourism is on the rise and
recently the Okavango Delta
was listed a World Heritage
Site, which should boost
tourism even more.”
Meanwhile, Kenya Airways
is also looking at launching a
direct service to Cape Town.
The airline’s coo, Mbuvi
Ngunze, recently stated at
KQ's Dreamliner event press
conference that it would be
interested in expanding its
footprint beyond the NairobiJohannesburg
route.
