Qatar Airways is set to become the first Middle Eastern carrier to fly to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.

The airline plans to launch three-times weekly flights via Johannesburg on October 27, 2019.

Flights will be operated by an A350-900 on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays with the following schedule:

  • Doha-Johannesburg (QR1377) Departs 0655, Arrives 1450
  • Johannesburg-Gaborone (QR1377) Departs 1555, Arrives 1650
  • Gaborone-Johannesburg (QR1378) Departs 1835, Arrives 1930
  • Johannesburg-Doha (QR1378) Departs 2040, Arrives 0635

The aircraft will have 36 seats in business and 247 in economy.

Botswana, which borders Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, is a popular tourist destination, particularly for safari holidays. Its population is around 2.2 million.

No nonstop scheduled routes to the country currently operate from the UK. Options include South African Airways via Johannesburg, Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa and Victoria Falls, and Swiss via Frankfurt and Johannesburg.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker commented on the new route: “We are excited to be launching three-weekly flights to Gaborone, another highly sought after destination in Africa.

“Qatar Airways is committed to growing our presence in Africa and adding to the 22 destinations in 15 countries we already offer. Our new service to the enchanting city of Gaborone will enable us to provide a seamless journey to and from Botswana, for passengers connecting from our extensive network of more than 160 destinations worldwide.”

qatarairways.com