No JBO-Maun flights any more?
 

I tried to book flights from Johannesburg to Maun with Air Botswana and found they are flying only three days a week in December and January. I don't think is wholly to do with it being low season as until this week there were 9 flights a week to choose from when running the same booking enquiry.

So I checked out SAA in case they were doing flights and this was part of the reason for the change. Nothing at all.

Surely this is an error? Am I having a bad dream? Did a depressed pilot destroy their fleet again? Will I really have to fly via Gabarone with all the waiting that entails at both airports, both ways?

Oh, that is all about "me"....it actually might affect other people too (whatever 'it' turns out to be).

By the way, sorry for the "shocker" title. I would edit it if I could!

Kimburu,
There was a recent ngamitimes article that said that the direct flight no longer exists after October 1, 2010. All flights go through Gabs until further negotiations between the 2 countries. Apparently, only a 20 minute stop-over and you don't need to get off the plane. Clear customs in Maun etc etc.,
Hari

Thanks HariS. That's a relief and I hope that is the case. But according to the Air Botswana web site there is still quite a long stopover.

I guess if it is something really new, maybe I should give it a couple more weeks to clarify itself. Bad timing for me though as I arranged my trip (and my mum's trip) around the former schedules.

Good idea to give it a week or two and then try again. The article also said negotiations between the 2 countries are expected.

I´ve got my flight change details today.
Instead of flying JNB-Maun directly we will stopover at Gabs. All in all it looks to me like a "loss" of time from 1hour (arrival time 1600hrs), which is a lot when you have your camp flight to the linyanty/Savuti area.
I will have to reorganize my travel plans.
Wanted to go by rental car to Planet Baobab the same day, which looks like maybe to late. Actually I am not to happy in driving in the dark with all these animals and cattle around. So I will likely cancel the first night there and stay in Maun therefor.
The return flights from Maun-JNB takes off at 1415 which is another 1hour earlier, which may effect the morning game drive (not sure about that).
Thomas

This the second flight you refer, Thomas that is arriving at 16:00? Normally the morning Air Bots is meant to arrive at noon or shortly after.

Return leg was already 14 30 from memory?

Yes, that´s the second flight.
We don´t get the 1st flight as the connecting time in JNB is to short for that (if you want your bags to arrive with you in Maun).
Thomas

When are you traveling Thomas? I heard the same story as yours for October.

We fly @ 5th November

If it hasn't become clear already, the information on the Air Botswana web site (used in their booking engine) is currently wrong.

The schedules on the website do not match the times and dates per the choices that the booking engine gives you; and neither of these match the times that people who already have tickets are being given. However, I'm sure it'll sort itself out soon.