The Future of National Flag Carriers in Developing Countries: Air Botswana's Privatisation Struggle

Air transport is vital in the determination of overall transport costs as it shortens the time required to reach far destinations. Being the pivotal means for the worldwide transport system, air transport represents a fundamental component in facilitating economic activities and accelerating integration (AU, 2005: 2). To ensure full participation in the international community, a country must be capable of providing quality air services over and above safety and handling air travellers in a professional manner (Unctad, 1999: 8). Civil aviation has therefore become a key indicator of national development. Most countries in the world have national airlines which are “flying their national flags high”