14 August 2024
Airlink has said that sales on the new Cape Town to Gaborone, Botswana route will be stopped until further notice. Here’s why… Airlink route not ‘authorised’
Airlink just last week announced a brand new connection from Cape Town to Gaborone, Botswana, but now the airline has said that it will be halting sales along the route.
As reported by Travel News, Airlink has apparently withdrawn sales for its direct Cape Town to Gaborone flights after the Botswana Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) informed the airline that it had not been granted authorisation to operate the route.
The Aviation Authority also requested that Airlink remove all advertisements of the new service and has even fined the airline for marketing and selling flights without their approval.
Airlink CEO and MD, Rodger Foster has apologised for their prematurely announcement.
“There was an oversight on Airlink’s part to offer seats for sale prematurely, and we will remedy this.
Although Airlink holds a valid foreign operators permit to provide air services between South Africa and Botswana, the process of getting this particular route included on the permit is still being finalised,” Foster said as per Travel News.
More flights along popular Durban-Harare route
In other Airlink flight news, the airline also recently announced that there would be more flights along its popular Durban to Harare, Zimbabwe route.
Rodger Foster said that they were offering daily services on the Durban-Harare route in response to their customers’ positive reaction to the convenience and great value of the route.
“It is an appealing combination that promotes business, trade, tourism and travel between the two key cities and enhances the economic competitiveness of the regions they support,” Foster said as per Tourism Update.
The additional flights will operate on Wednesdays, departing Durban’s King Shaka International Airport at 10:30 and arriving at Harare’s Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport at 12:40. The return service leaves Harare at 13:20 and lands in Durban at 15:35.
Source: https://www.thesouthafrican.com/travel/airlink-new-cape-town-gaborone-route-stopped-not-allowed-why/
