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Air Botswana (BP) Guide

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Where Air Botswana flies from Gaborone, which aircraft it uses, what its cabins and bag allowances look like, and how to check in for a BP flight. Ask a question
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In short

Air Botswana is the state-owned flag carrier of Botswana, based at Sir Seretse Khama International in Gaborone. Its eight destinations are Maun, Kasane, Francistown, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Harare and Lusaka. Air Botswana is not in an alliance and rewards regular flyers through Teemane Club. The fleet is ATR 72-600 and Embraer 175.

Air Botswana is Botswana’s state-owned flag carrier, headquartered in Gaborone. It flies domestic routes, including to the safari gateways of Maun and Kasane, and regional routes to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with Air Botswana. Routes, schedules, fleet and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

Air Botswana (IATA: BP, ICAO: BOT) is the state-owned flag carrier of Botswana, with its head office and hub at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone. It is a small airline flying three aircraft to eight destinations, and it suits travellers heading to the Okavango Delta and Chobe through Maun and Kasane, and people moving between Botswana and neighbouring capitals.

The 1972 founding after two failed airlines

Air Botswana was set up on 2 July 1972 to replace two national airlines that had failed, and it started flying on 1 August 1972 with a single Fokker F-27 turboprop. In 1988 the government absorbed it as a parastatal, and it remains 100% government-owned. Botswana tried to sell the airline in 2000, 2003 and again in 2006 and 2007, with Air Mauritius, Comair and Airlink among the partners discussed. A 2008 bid by the Russian businessman Alexander Lebedev was also dropped. The airline has made losses for many years.

Domestic routes to Maun, Kasane and the Okavango

Domestic flights link Gaborone with Francistown, Maun and Kasane. Maun and Kasane are the usual airports for trips to the Okavango Delta and the Chobe area, which makes these two routes the busiest with leisure travellers. Regional routes go to Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa, Lusaka in Zambia and Harare in Zimbabwe.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
Air Botswana official website

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  1. Air Botswana official website
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Good to know

  • Founded1972

Everything you should know

Airline codes

BP · BOT

IATA · ICAO · callsign “BOTSWANA”

Every Air Botswana flight number begins with BP. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code BOT, and the radio callsign is BOTSWANA.

Key facts

Main hub

Gaborone (GBE)

Sir Seretse Khama International

Network

8 destinations

Botswana · Southern Africa

Air Botswana links Gaborone with Maun, Kasane and Francistown, and flies regionally to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Harare and Lusaka.

Destinations

Good to know

Air Botswana is state-owned and has been loss-making for several years. The airline’s site, airbotswana.co.bw, handles bookings and check-in.

Frequent flyer

Teemane Club

No global alliance

Teemane Club is where Air Botswana flights earn points; the airline has not joined Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam.

How it works

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At a glance

Air Botswana (IATA: BP, ICAO: BOT) is the state-owned flag carrier of Botswana, based at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone. Founded in 1972, it flies ATR 72-600 and Embraer 175 aircraft to Maun, Kasane, Francistown, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Harare and Lusaka.

Key facts about Air Botswana
HeadquartersSir Seretse Khama International Airport, Gaborone, Botswana
Fleet typesATR 72-600 and Embraer 175
Frequent flyerTeemane Club
Official websiteairbotswana.co.bw

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
These are the cities on Air Botswana’s published route map. Timetables change through the year, so check the Air Botswana schedule before you plan around a route. Search flights

Botswana

Gaborone (GBE) departures3 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

The fleet is two ATR 72-600 turboprops and one Embraer 175 regional jet. Since Lulu Rasebotsa became general manager in December 2023, the airline has added aircraft and routes with government funding. With only three aircraft, a technical problem on one of them can disrupt the day's schedule, so keep a buffer before a safari transfer or a long-haul connection in Johannesburg.

  • ATR 72-600 Turboprop · 2 in service Domestic and regional routes
  • Embraer 175 Regional jet · 1 in service Regional routes

Cabin classes

The Air Botswana cabin classes are being added Choose your cabin when you search; each fare shows what it includes.
Search Air Botswana flights Cabins on the airline's site

Teemane Club

Teemane Club is Air Botswana’s frequent flyer scheme, and you can sign up on airbotswana.co.bw.

Air Botswana’s frequent flyer programme lets members collect points on its flights. Check the airline’s website for current rules.

Teemane Club is the frequent flyer programme, open to passengers who fly Air Botswana regularly between Gaborone, the safari towns and the regional capitals. Air Botswana is not part of a global alliance.

Baggage allowance

Air Botswana does not give every passenger the same allowance: the route, the cabin and the fare you buy each change it. Your BP e-ticket shows what you have.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Set by your fare
Extra bags
Add online before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

Air Botswana prints the checked and cabin allowance for your fare on the e-ticket. Flights to Maun and Kasane are often the first step of a safari, so check any onward transfer's own bag rules as well.

Pro tip: ask your safari lodge about its transfer bag limit before you fly to Maun or Kasane, because it applies after your Air Botswana flight.
Travel day

Online Check-in

Here is the order to follow for a BP flight: check in, sort your documents, meet the airport deadline and drop your bags.

  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Online check-in for BP flights is on the official Air Botswana website. You need the BP booking reference or e-ticket number and the passenger’s surname.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    Pack your passport plus any visa, residence permit or entry papers your destination asks for. Domestic BP passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Air Botswana closes its check-in counters before departure, and passengers who miss the cut-off can be refused boarding. Leave room for bag drop and security at GBE.

    Check your deadline
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    Air Botswana desks and bag-drop points take your hold luggage. Keep the bag-tag receipt with your boarding pass until the bags come off at the end of your BP trip.

    Air Botswana counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official Air Botswana website.
Check in with Air Botswana
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Cheap tickets

How to find a cheaper Air Botswana fare without giving up the bag or seat you need.

  1. 01

    Look across the week

    Compare a full week of Air Botswana departures; midweek days are often priced below Fridays and Sundays.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Travel around the busy dates

    When school holidays and festivals send many people travelling at once, BP fares rise. A trip just before or after the peak tends to cost less.

    School holidays · festivals
  3. 03

    Check what each Air Botswana fare includes

    The lowest BP fare is not always the cheapest trip once bags and seats are added. Compare the fare types before you pay.

    Baggage & changes
  4. 04

    Book busy Air Botswana routes early

    On busy Air Botswana routes such as GBE to Francistown, booking several weeks ahead usually leaves more fares to choose from.

    Popular routes
  5. 05

    Join Teemane Club

    Membership of Teemane Club lets your Air Botswana trips count towards rewards, and members hear about offers first.

    Before you fly

  6. Ready to compare fares?

    Search Air Botswana alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search Air Botswana flights

Reviews and questions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying Air Botswana.
Answers checked against Air Botswana’s official website and published airline records. Reviewed 10 October 2026.

General

Air Botswana's hub is Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. Most routes start or connect there, including flights to Maun, Kasane and Francistown.