The Botswanan tourism industry has welcomed Ethiopian Airlines’ plans to service Gaborone via Victoria Falls next year.
From March, the airline will operate the route four times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, using a Boeing 737-800. “The aircraft is configured with 16 business- and 138 economy-class seats,” said Abel Alemu, Regional Manager Southern Africa.
Flight ET0829 will depart Addis Ababa at 08h35 and arrive at Victoria Falls at 12h15. It departs at 13h00 and arrives in Gaborone at 14h15. The return flight will depart from Gaborone at 15h00 and arrive in Addis Ababa at 21h30.
Ethiopian Airlines has fifth freedom rights on the route, allowing it to carry passengers from Victoria Falls to Gaborone.
Tebogo Oletile, HATAB PR & Marketing Manager, said the new Ethiopian Airlines’ route linking Gaborone and Victoria Falls would boost Botswana’s hospitality and tourism sector as tourists would come into the country from Victoria Falls on the new flights.
“Having an airline route between Gaborone and Victoria Falls will help facilitate the arrival of large numbers of tourists between the two countries,” Oletile told Tourism Update.
