Friday, February 7, 2025

Air Botswana signs special agreement with Mozambique airline

Air Botswana has announced signing a Special Protate Agreement (SPA) with Mozambique’s national airline, Lam Linhas areas de Mocambique, LAM.

The SPA effectively extends air Botswana’s route network from Gaborone, Maun and Francistown by providing connections in Johannesburg to LAM’s seven destinations in Mozambique, including a choice of commercial cities and beach resorts. These destinations include Maputo, Beira, Vilancous, Pemba, Tete, Nampula and Inhambana.

The communiqu├® from Air Botswana’s Corporate Communications Officer, Thabiso leshoai, on Friday indicated-the SPA will also allow for through check-in of baggage which allows passengers to check-in their luggage from Gaborone, Maun and Francistown onwards to destinations in Mozambique.

“The airlines mutual customers in Botswana will be offered the added convenience of using an air Botswana through-ticket and fares for the combined flights to and from Mozambique. The SPA similarly allows for the same reciprocal arrangement for passengers travelling from Mozambique who will be able to book and purchase tickets via Johannesburg onwards on Air Botswana’s flights to Gaborone, Maun and Francistown,” reads the statement.

In another development Air Botswana passengers are now required to declare all electronic devices on international departure  from all South African airports, as per the new South African Revenue Service (SARS).

SARS has in this regard, begun issuing fines for travellers who have not declared their electronic goods not registered before travelling on international flights. All international passengers travelling with electronic devises therefore need to obtain and complete a DA65 form which needs to be stamped by SARS prior to departure. The form is valid for six months, but has to be updated every time a traveller acquires a new device. Passengers have therefore been reminded to ensure that all items are accounted for and that a SARS official stamps the form on each departure from the country. Electronic devices include cameras, laptops, I-pads, mobile phones, watches amongst many others.

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