A crowd going under the name Botswana International Air Cargo are spreading the word that they have bought well known DC-8 operator African International Airlines. Both their -63's are on the ground at JNB awaiting heavy overhaul and or C-Checks.
From their publicity shot it seems there is almost no DC-8 in Africa that they dont own or otherwise control.
Names being mentioned are Nigel Crompton, David Eastaugh, and a certain one Captain Kambarage KO Kaunda.
Plan is to use Gaberone, Botswana as their cargo hub but fly regionaly and international.
This is quite a mouthful, leading one to believe that perhaps these guys dont know what they are about or wanting to let themselves in for.
Anybody with more info, please share.
"Our company ‘BIA Cargo’ has recently acquired an air cargo operation namely African International Airlines’. We would like the opportunity to open discussions with potential clients with a view to offering our services on intercontinental and indeed African regional routes.
We are currently operating six DC-8’s in the fleet operating with various airlines i.e. Silverback, Guy Eaton (UK)and Kiki La Mer (DRC) there are also two at Heavylift In Dubai. We will also have 2 x B727s including a VIP a/c based at Lanseria, a former Nigerian presidential Super 27, which is configured for 28 pax.
Our group is also in discussions with ‘Dodson Aviation – S.A.’ to set up a JV operations with them to operate B727-100 F and the DC3TP Dakotas. This would give us a fleet of turbine aircraft for the tougher regions like Southern Sudan, DRC, Angola and even Somaliland if required.
We have set all this up in the space of the past few months including the newco for Botswana at Gaberone – ‘Botswana International Airways (Pty)’ which will be our hub for most of our SADC operations.
Our local HQ in Johannesburg is at the old Nationwide Hangar - AirQuarius and our ground operations at Jet Park, with the heavy maintenance hangar on the Denel side at ARH.
Please feel free to visit our web-sites www.biacargo.co.za and www.aiaflycargo.com."