Botswana's national flag carrier, founded on 2 July 1972, succeeding two earlier state-owned airlines and becoming a wholly government-owned public corporation under the Air Botswana Act in 1988. Its head office and hub are at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in the capital, Gaborone. A fleet of six aircraft, ATR 72-600 turboprops and Embraer E-Jets, operates four domestic points and regional schedules to five southern African countries and carries belly cargo on all scheduled points. The company has leased the hub's cargo terminal since January 2014 and included a cargo feasibility study in its 2026–2027 budget. No direct cargo flights between mainland China and Botswana are published, so Chinese cargo usually connects through a southern African hub such as Johannesburg to Gaborone and then enters its network.
Chinese-language service provider: Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, handling booking, customs declaration and end-to-end logistics for international air freight, on routes from China to Africa and all major continents.
Air Botswana (IATA two-letter code BP, ICAO three-letter code BOT, radio call sign BOTSWANA, air waybill prefix 636) was founded on 2 July 1972, succeeding two national airlines whose operations had stopped, Air Botswana and Botswana Airways Corporation. It began flying that year with a Fokker F-27 turboprop, and on 1 April 1988 became a wholly government-owned public corporation under the Air Botswana Act as the country's flag carrier. Head office and operating hub are both at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in the capital, Gaborone, and the airline is entirely owned by the Government of Botswana.
The fleet combines turboprop and jet platforms to cover short domestic sectors and regional international sectors. Public sources list two ATR 72-600 turboprops, two Embraer E145 jets, one Embraer E170 and one Embraer E175, six aircraft in all, all passenger configuration with cargo carried in the belly of the same flight. Cargo products are split between general and special cargo, accepted at all scheduled points, with a published per-piece weight limit of 120 kg and a dedicated cargo e-mail address and telephone line for bookings.
The airline's investment in cargo has a long history. In 1983 it leased a Lockheed L-100-30 Hercules and set up a cargo department for charter work. In January 2014 the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana leased its newly built cargo terminal at the hub to the airline, and the lease has been renewed several times since. In the 2026–2027 budget the government allocated P127 million to the airline, with transformation measures including strengthening charter business, expanding maintenance facilities and a feasibility study for cargo operations, aimed at giving the airline a larger role in regional air cargo.
On China-related records, public sources list no scheduled cargo service to mainland China or Hong Kong and no own office in China. No direct cargo flights between mainland China and Botswana are published; the usual path for Chinese cargo is from a Chinese airport to a southern or East African hub, then on local capacity to Gaborone, with the airline and local ground agents completing distribution within Botswana and to neighbouring countries.
| Airline | Air Botswana |
| Company type | Wholly government-owned flag carrier (cargo carried on scheduled passenger flights) |
| Country | Botswana |
| Global headquarters | Gaborone, Botswana |
| Hub airport | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE/FBSK) |
| Founded | 1972 |
| IATA two-letter code | BP |
| ICAO three-letter code | BOT |
| Radio call sign | BOTSWANA |
| Air waybill prefix | 636 |
| Official lookup website | airbotswana.co.bw |
| Cargo aircraft | No freighter in service is published; cargo is carried in the belly holds of two ATR 72-600 and four Embraer E145, E170 and E175 aircraft |
| China services | No direct cargo flights publicly listed and no directly owned China office |
The information above is compiled from public sources. Fleet size and destination coverage may change with operational needs, so check the carrier's latest publication.
The company publicly lists cargo service to domestic and international points. All scheduled flights carry cargo in the belly of the same aircraft, sharing weight and balance limits with passengers, so available payload must be calculated per shipment.
Cargo products fall into general and special cargo. General cargo is non-dangerous goods handled through standard procedures; special cargo covers valuables, perishables, live animals and human remains, and some commodities need a special permit.
The company also offers charters and arranges capacity separately to customer requirements. Public statistics show 23 dedicated cargo charters flown in Botswana's 2023-2024 financial year, used to move government supplies and project cargo in bulk.
The published maximum piece weight is 120 kg. Limits apply separately to the upper and lower deck: upper deck pieces up to 68 kg and 4,000 kg in total, lower deck accepted at 1,200 kg subject to confirmation.
Capacity note: all cargo rides on scheduled passenger flights, with no independent freighter main-deck capacity, so the volume accepted varies with passenger numbers, fuel and sector length. Upper and lower deck size and weight limits are published and are acceptance thresholds, not guaranteed payload. For China-origin cargo bound for Botswana, confirm the connecting flight into Gaborone and the remaining payload on the day at the booking stage, so that cargo does not sit at the airport on arrival.
Air Botswana's fleet splits into turboprop and jet platforms by sector. ATR 72-600 twin turboprops serve domestic sectors from Gaborone to Francistown, Maun and Kasane and can use shorter runways; Embraer E145, E170 and E175 jets serve regional international sectors to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Harare and Lusaka. Public sources list 6 aircraft in service, all passenger configuration, with cargo carried in the belly of the same flight and a published maximum piece weight of 120 kg. The company runs a maintenance hangar at its hub for airframe, engine and avionics checks.
| Aircraft type | Number | Category | Passenger and cargo figures (public reference values) | Legs operated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 72-600 | 2 aircraft | Twin turboprop passenger aircraft | 70-seat passenger configuration; cargo is carried in the belly | Domestic and short regional sectors |
| Embraer E145 | 2 aircraft | Twin-engine jet airliner | 50-seat passenger configuration, cargo in the belly | Regional international sectors |
| Embraer E170 | 1 aircraft | Twin-engine jet airliner | 70-seat passenger configuration; cargo is carried in the belly | Regional international sectors |
| Embraer E175 | 1 aircraft | Twin-engine jet airliner | 88-seat passenger configuration, cargo in the belly | Regional international sectors |
| Freighter | — | — | No active freighter listed in public sources | — |
The table is compiled from public data; seat counts are published reference values for the type and do not equal sellable cargo per flight. Actual acceptance depends on passenger load, fuel, sector length and weight and balance limits, and on the carrier's calculation for that flight.
The chart compares aircraft in service and shows the platform mix and how capacity is split between domestic and regional sectors.
| Cargo types handled | Machinery and electrical equipment parts, textiles and light manufactured goods, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, mail and express parcels |
| Maximum per piece | Published as 120 kg |
| Upper deck loading | Pieces up to 68 kg, 4,000 kg in total; maximum dimensions 60 cm high, 45 cm long, 40 cm wide |
| Lower deck loading | Accepted at 1,200 kg subject to confirmation; maximum dimensions 150 cm long, 67 cm wide, 84 cm high |
| Temperature control and dangerous goods | Perishables are handled as special cargo and need advance application; no separate temperature zone is listed publicly, and dangerous goods must be confirmed per shipment |
| Out-of-gauge cargo | Cargo above the per-piece or per-shipment limits needs advance application, with the carrier confirming acceptance after review |
The chart shows public statistics on Botswana's import origins in 2024. Southern African Customs Union members dominate, and China ranks in the top five with about four percent, corresponding to machinery and electrical goods, steel products and furniture, the main source base for the carrier's belly cargo on the China lane.
Public sources list no scheduled cargo flights by the company to mainland China or Hong Kong and no direct office there. No direct freighter service between mainland China and Botswana is publicly listed.No public information availableCargo from China normally transits a Southern African or East African hub to Gaborone.
The company hubs at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE/FBSK). The airport lies about 10 km north of Gaborone, with a 4,000 m by 45 m concrete runway, elevation about 1,006 m and runway headings 08 to 26. It is Botswana's largest international gateway, has a separate cargo terminal, and handled 407,813 passengers and 10,755 aircraft movements in 2024.
Published scheduled points are Gaborone, Francistown, Maun and Kasane in Botswana, Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa, Harare in Zimbabwe and Lusaka in Zambia, 8 points in 4 countries. The company holds code-share or interline agreements with other carriers on some sectors; operating status follows the carrier's latest publication.
| Destinations | Airport code | Country or region | Service type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaborone | GBE | Botswana | Hub airport, origin of domestic and regional sectors |
| Francistown | FRW | Botswana | Scheduled domestic sector |
| Maun | MUB | Botswana | Scheduled domestic sector, Okavango Delta gateway |
| Kasane | BBK | Botswana | Scheduled domestic sector, designated as an international airport |
| Johannesburg | JNB | South Africa | Scheduled international sector, the main transit gateway for Air Botswana cargo |
| Cape Town | CPT | South Africa | Scheduled international sectors |
| Harare | HRE | Zimbabwe | Scheduled international sectors |
| Lusaka | LUN | Zambia | Scheduled international sectors |
| Durban | DUR | South Africa | Grounded from 2025 to 2026 |
| Windhoek | WDH | Namibia | Grounded from 2025 to 2026 |
| Mainland China and Hong Kong | — | China | No published scheduled freighter data at present |
Point attributes are compiled from public sources; operating days and times are local. Regional points change with the seasonal schedule; sectors without published operating days have no fixed timetable available, and schedules are subject to carrier confirmation on the booking date.
The company does not operate China routes, so China-origin cargo reaches Botswana in two legs: a first leg from a Chinese airport through a Southern African or East African hub to Gaborone, then a second leg on the company's network within Botswana and across Southern Africa. The value sits in the final leg, moving a consolidated lot that has reached Gaborone to domestic and neighbouring points quickly.
Operational note:For traffic to South Africa and East Africa we match capacity on the mainline carriers on those lanes. For Botswana-bound cargo it is better to arrange the whole journey under one air waybill, with the first-leg carrier and the final carrier billed separately; we quote as one and handle export clearance and handover.
| Corporate headquarters | Sir Seretse Khama Airport, Gaborone, Botswana, PO Box 92 |
| Hub airport | Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE/FBSK), about 10 km north of Gaborone |
| Company switchboard | +267 3688400, fax +267 3974802 |
| Cargo acceptance line | +267 3688551, cargo email cargo-ops@airbotswana.co.bw |
| Sales contact | sales@airbotswana.co.bw; Francistown sales office +267 2412393 |
| Official website | airbotswana.co.bw, with cargo services and cargo tracking sections |
| Interline partnerships | Public sources list code-share agreements with Air Seychelles and Qatar Airways and an interline agreement with Emirates |
| China contact | No China office is publicly listed. Contact the airline's local agent in China, or ask us to coordinate on your behalf.No public information available |
| Information note | Contact details and office hours may change, so check the carrier's latest publication before handover |
The company has no published direct office in China, so Chinese shippers cannot book with the carrier directly at home. They can appoint a local Chinese forwarder to handle first-leg booking and export clearance, with the forwarder connecting to a Botswana agent for the final legs. Using a forwarder familiar with African lanes helps in the following ways:
The company is Botswana's national flag carrier, hubs at the country's largest international airport and leases its cargo terminal, so the network maps directly onto local traffic and the final-leg chain is short.
Published domestic points cover Francistown, Maun and Kasane, making the company the main provider of scheduled domestic service. Cargo bound for Botswana's interior towns needs no second transhipment elsewhere.
Public data lists a 120 kg per-piece limit and separate piece and total weight limits plus size limits for the upper and lower decks, which is clear enough to calculate sellable volume and how a shipment splits into pieces at quotation stage.
The company website has a cargo tracking entry and the hub airport offers ground handling and maintenance. The hub has a separate cargo terminal, customs examination area and storage, so clearance and transfer can be completed on site.
The published product range includes valuables, perishables, live animals and human remains, with a defined application route for commodities needing special approval, suited to small high-value shipments.
The fleet is 6 aircraft, all passenger configurationLimited capacity, with no independent freighter capacity and few alternatives; Botswana's trade is import-led, outbound cargo is limited and back-haul space must be confirmed per shipment.
Fit: the strengths are final-leg connections at Gaborone, distribution to Botswana points, and small shipments with light pieces. For bulk cargo to Botswana we usually use other carriers for the China to Southern or East African hub mainline, with the company and local agents covering the legs beyond Gaborone, each sector priced separately.
Botswana is landlocked and heavy cargo enters mainly by road from South Africa, with a cross-Kalahari corridor west of the Orange River to Walvis Bay in Namibia. Public statistics show that in July 2024 road accounted for 79.5% of import value, rail 12.9% and air 7.6%; for exports in the same period air took 43.5%, with road at 55.6% and other modes lower. Air's share of local trade is concentrated in high-value goods, reflecting demand from diamonds and precision equipment.
Sir Seretse Khama International Airport has a separate cargo terminal with storage, customs examination and agent space, and clearance is handled by the Botswana Unified Revenue Service. The terminal has been leased to the company since January 2014; the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana plans to take it back and run it from the 2025-2026 financial year as part of its air cargo development.
No direct freighter service between mainland China and Botswana is publicly listed, and no scheduled freighter service is published locally either, so air cargo relies on belly space on scheduled passenger flights. China-origin cargo normally moves from a Chinese airport to Johannesburg, then by road or short flight to Gaborone; routing via Addis Ababa suits shipments with tighter deadlines.
Public statistics put 2024 two-way trade between China and Botswana at USD 1.01 billion, up 42.1%, with Chinese exports of USD 240 million, mainly machinery and electrical goods, steel products and furniture, and imports from Botswana of USD 770 million, mainly diamonds and copper ore. The import direction is dominated by consumer and capital goods, which matches belly loading, so capacity planning should focus on the China to Botswana direction.
After booking confirmation, submit consignee details for the air waybill, commercial invoice and packing list as the carrier requires. Arrival clearance and pickup at the Botswana airport can be handled by a local agent; onward movement to Maun, Kasane and other domestic points can be arranged on the same document set. Our proposal itemises origin clearance, mainline air freight, hub handling and destination clearance and delivery.
The company sells through general sales agents in several countries, with published agents in Canada, Namibia, the US and Zimbabwe. Agent entities, addresses and contacts can change, so before shipping, Chinese shippers should check current channels through the carrier's official channels or through us, to avoid delays caused by outdated contacts.
Air Botswana is Botswana's national flag carrier, founded on 2 July 1972 and converted to a wholly government-owned public corporation in 1988. Its IATA code is BP, ICAO code BOT, radio call sign BOTSWANA and AWB prefix 636; it hubs at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport and carries belly cargo on all scheduled points.
Public sources list no scheduled cargo flights by the company to mainland China or Hong Kong and no direct office in China. No direct freighter service between mainland China and Botswana is publicly listed; Chinese shippers can contact its local agent in China or ask us to connect them.
The company does not operate China routes, so there is no schedule or aircraft data for China lanes. Once China-origin cargo reaches Gaborone, onward movement to Botswana domestic or Southern African points can be carried on ATR 72-600 or Embraer E series aircraft on the relevant sectors; schedules change with the seasonal plan and are subject to carrier confirmation on the booking date.
Public data lists an active fleet of 2 ATR 72-600 turboprops, 2 Embraer E145 jets and 1 each of the E170 and E175, 6 aircraft in total, all passenger configuration with cargo in the belly of the same flight. No active freighter is listed, and the 2026-2027 budget includes a feasibility study on cargo operations.
Published products are general and special cargo. General cargo is non-dangerous goods; special cargo covers valuables, perishables, live animals and human remains, some needing a special permit. The maximum piece weight is 120 kg, upper deck pieces up to 68 kg and 4,000 kg in total, lower deck accepted at 1,200 kg subject to confirmation. Shipments above these limits need full details at booking, with the carrier confirming acceptance after review.
Published domestic points cover Francistown, Maun and Kasane for tourist and business cargo to the Okavango Delta and Chobe, and regional points cover South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. China-origin cargo destined for these points can connect at Gaborone; operating status follows the carrier's latest publication.
Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited, based in Shenzhen, China, specialises in international air freight from China to Africa and major world markets. We design air freight solutions to Botswana and Southern Africa, shipping from major Chinese airports via Johannesburg or Addis Ababa to Gaborone and connecting to Air Botswana belly capacity on scheduled flights, covering quotation, export clearance, air freight, import clearance and delivery. Ask us for routings and rates.
Disclaimer:Prepared by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited (Goodhope Freight). Airline names, codes, trademarks and brand marks mentioned here belong to their respective owners. We are an independent international freight forwarder and have no affiliation, agency or investment relationship with this airline. The information is compiled from public sources for reference only and does not form a contract of carriage or a service commitment. Space, rates and schedules are subject to actual confirmation by the carrier or its authorized agent on the day of booking.