Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport Explained

Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport
Nativename:Francistown International Airport
Iata:FRW
Icao:FBPM
Pushpin Map:Botswana
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the airport in Botswana
Pushpin Label:FRW
Pushpin Label Position:right
Type:Public / military
Owner:Government of Botswana
Operator:Civil Government (international airport)
Botswana Defence Force (air base)
City-Served:Francistown, Botswana
Elevation-F:3312
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:11/29
R1-Length-M:2230
R1-Surface:Asphalt
R2-Number:13/31
R2-Length-M:3000
R2-Surface:Asphalt
Footnotes:Sources: GCM

Phillip Gaonwe Matante International Airport, also known as Francistown International Airport, serves Francistown, Botswana. The public airport, which caters to both commercial and national military's aircraft, is on the western edge of the city. The airport was named after Philip Matante.[1]

Facilities

The new terminal building opened in 2011 and the old terminal at the eastern end of the airport was transferred to the Botswana Defence Force.[2] There are no jet bridges, thus passengers must walk from the terminal to designated parking areas on the tarmac in front of the terminal. A new control tower was built next to the new terminal.

The passenger terminal has an arrival and departure hall. A small retail area hosts car rental companies, an ATM and a post office.

Other tenants include Customs and Excise, Immigration, Meteorological Service Office, Air BP Fuels, and Air Botswana Offices.

Airline and destinations

Francistown handles domestic and regional (within Africa) flights.

Botswana Defence Force Air Wing

Francistown is home to one of three Botswana Defence Force Air Wing air bases and home to the Z3 Transport (Liaison) Squadron and the Z12 Transport Squadron.

The air base is located in the old terminal building at the east end of the airport with the large steel hangar.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ‘Renaming F/town airport politically motivated’. 2 October 2019.
  2. Web site: Magistrates Must Keep Time. 6 August 2007.