SA Airlink preferred bidder for Air Botswana

GABORONE – Botswana’s government has picked South Africa’s SA Airlink (Pty) Ltd as its preferred bidder for its loss-making national carrier Air Botswana, a state agency said.

President Festus Mogae’s government, which is planning to privatise the airline by the end of November, decided to offload Air Botswana to SA Airlink after it beat off two rival bidders, the Public Enterprises Evaluation and Privatisation Agency (PEEPA) said in a statement late on Wednesday. Comair Limited, Interair South Africa, ExecuJet Aviation Group and Tourism Empowerment Group were among the eight firms that initially showed interest, but only Lobair Botswana and African World Airlines lodged tenders alongside SA Airlink in August.”The three proposals from the three respondents were evaluated and those of Lobair Botswana and African World Airlines were found not to meet the necessary requirements, rendering the two bidders not eligible for selection,” said the PEEPA.Some of the necessary requirements included commercial airline operating experience in Africa with owned or leased aircraft.Diamond-rich Botswana also wants to privatise several other state firms, including the national telecommunications corporation.Nampa-ReutersComair Limited, Interair South Africa, ExecuJet Aviation Group and Tourism Empowerment Group were among the eight firms that initially showed interest, but only Lobair Botswana and African World Airlines lodged tenders alongside SA Airlink in August.”The three proposals from the three respondents were evaluated and those of Lobair Botswana and African World Airlines were found not to meet the necessary requirements, rendering the two bidders not eligible for selection,” said the PEEPA.Some of the necessary requirements included commercial airline operating experience in Africa with owned or leased aircraft.Diamond-rich Botswana also wants to privatise several other state firms, including the national telecommunications corporation.Nampa-Reuters