Air Botswana has announced plans to lay off more than half of its workforce. This comes at a time when the government is trying to, again, privatize the airline.
According to the airline, plans are underway to reduce the workforce from 450 to 210 as a way of returning to profitability by refocusing on core operations.
According to Chairman Tebogo Masire, the airline will separate the ground-handling operation into a new unit. A wholly-owned company will be established where the affected staff will be re-employed.
The airline had initially retrenched staff in 2016 and 2017, while also getting rid of the old planes and refleeting, in the hopes of returning to profitability.
Letshego Moeng, who is is responsible for transport at the Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatization Agency, further notes that the airline is looking for an equity partner or an initial public offering (IPO).
The government previously attempted to privatise the airline in 2003 with Comair and Air Mauritius. Unfortunately, Air Mauritius withdrew from the deal. The government then suspended their search for a strategic partner.
Air Botswana Corporation is Botswana’s state-owned national flag carrier. Its headquarters are in Gaborone. It operates scheduled domestic and regional flights from its main base at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.
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