Travel Agent Newsletter
January, 2026
In the Spotlight
Air Botswana
Botswana’s national carrier, Air Botswana, offers reliable domestic and regional flights, connecting travelers to key destinations across Southern Africa. Known for safety, efficiency, and regional expertise, the airline is ideal for exploring Botswana’s wildlife, culture, and business hubs.
Established in:
1972
Main Hub:
- Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE), Gaborone
Destinations:
Air Botswana flies to major domestic cities including Maun, Kasane, Francistown, and Ghanzi, as well as regional destinations like Johannesburg (South Africa), Harare (Zimbabwe), Lusaka (Zambia), and Windhoek (Namibia). Its network is perfect for connecting safari-goers to iconic parks like the Okavango Delta, Chobe, and Moremi.
Why Book Air Botswana
- Efficient regional connectivity across Southern Africa
- Ideal for safari and adventure travelers
- Modern regional aircraft offering comfortable travel
- Hub in Gaborone allows seamless connections to neighboring countries
Pro Tip for Agents
Use Air Botswana to design multi-stop itineraries in Southern Africa. Pair luxury safaris with city stops in Johannesburg or Windhoek, or combine adventure trips across Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia with a single airline for simplicity.
Get attractive commission on ALL Air Botswana fares when you book with FlyingCarpet.Travel.
Hidden Trails
Maun: Your Launchpad to the Okavango Delta’s Wildlife Wonders
Maun, perched on the edge of the Okavango Delta, serves as the gateway to Botswana’s most celebrated parks. It offers seamless access to pristine safari landscapes, winding river channels, and rich cultural experiences, making it the perfect starting point to explore the country’s wildlife and natural wonders.
Why Recommend It
- Gateway to the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, and Makgadikgadi Pans
- Ideal for slow travel — enjoy game drives, mokoro (canoe) excursions, and guided walking safaris
- Perfect for travelers seeking a blend of wildlife, adventure, and scenic beauty in one trip
- Great base for photography, nature experiences, and cultural encounters
Best Routes
- Accessible via regional flights from Johannesburg (South Africa), Windhoek (Namibia), or Gaborone (Botswana) on Air Botswana.
- Convenient addition for multi-destination Southern Africa itineraries: Johannesburg → Maun → Kasane → Chobe → Victoria Falls
Unique Experiences
- Take a mokoro ride through the Okavango Delta’s tranquil channels
- Spot elephants, lions, hippos, and a host of other wildlife on game drives
- Explore the Makgadikgadi salt pans and witness zebra or wildebeest migrations
- Visit local villages near Maun to experience San (Bushmen) culture and traditional storytelling
- Enjoy scenic air safaris for aerial views of the Delta’s waterways and wildlife
Weather & Festivals
- Dry season (May – October): Best for wildlife viewing, cooler temperatures, and clear skies
- Green/wet season (November – April): Lush scenery, birding, and baby animals
- The peak safari season in Okavango Delta: (June – September)
- Makgadikgadi & Nxai Pans zebra migration: (January – March)
Agent Tip
Position Maun as Botswana’s wildlife gateway – ideal for couples, families, photographers, and safari enthusiasts seeking immersive nature, luxury lodges, and adventure experiences.
It’s perfect for travelers looking to combine Botswana’s iconic safari destinations with neighboring Namibia, Zambia, or South Africa in one seamless itinerary.
Travel News & Updates
Stay ahead with the latest airline routes, hotel openings, attractions, and global travel updates.
Avianca Takes Off in 2026: More Routes, Better Comfort
Avianca is heading into 2026 with serious momentum. New routes launched in late 2025 – including Bogotá–Belém, Bogotá–Monterrey, and Tampa–Bogotá, will continue throughout 2026, opening fresh ways to explore the Americas while placing key cities in the spotlight ahead of global events like COP30 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. At the same time, Avianca is elevating the onboard experience with the rollout of Business Class Américas across dozens of domestic and international flights. The message is clear: in 2026, Avianca isn’t just expanding its map, it’s upgrading the journey, delivering a more connected, more comfortable way to travel across the continent.
New Routes Taking Off This January
January 2026 is bringing a wave of new air connections worth watching. Oman Air adds Muscat–Taif, opening easier access to Saudi Arabia’s cool-climate highlands. IndiGo goes big with new nonstop flights from Delhi to Athens and London Heathrow, making Europe more accessible than ever for Indian travelers. In Europe, LOT Polish Airlines expands north and west with new routes from Gdańsk to Brussels, Oslo, and Bergen, unlocking smoother connections to business hubs and Scandinavia’s scenic capitals.
Travel advisors can support clients by booking flights, hotel stays, local experiences, sightseeing, and transfers through Flying Carpet Travel, ensuring smooth and enjoyable trips for fans traveling to World Cup host cities.
Uzbekistan Goes Visa-Free for US Travelers from January 1, 2026
From January 1, 2026, US passport holders can enter Uzbekistan visa-free for up to 30 days. Previously limited to US travelers aged 55+, the visa-free policy now applies to all American citizens, making Uzbekistan far easier to sell for cultural explorers, history lovers, and experiential travelers. With growing global interest in Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and immersive Silk Road journeys, this change removes one of the biggest hurdles to booking.
The timing is ideal as Uzbekistan is actively investing in tourism infrastructure, international air connectivity, and regional partnerships, while also extending visa-free access to travelers from Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan – signaling strong momentum toward becoming a regional travel hub.
Similarly, effective 1 April 2025, Namibia ended visa-free access for nationals of 33 countries – including the United States, UK, Canada, and most of Europe – reinstating mandatory visa requirements. Senegal, while still visa-free for U.S. citizens at present, is considering adopting a similar reciprocal visa regime, signaling potential upcoming changes.
The news items and articles shared here are sourced from publicly available information and third-party websites.
FCT Events & Platform Updates
Flight Booking Update for Agents
At FlyingCarpet.Travel, we continuously review platform performance and agent feedback to identify areas where operational improvements can support better outcomes.
Based on input from our travel agent partners, we’ve made an operational update to our flight booking experience focused on simplifying pricing and supporting stronger conversion outcomes.
This is part of our ongoing commitment to refine the platform in ways that help travel professionals work more efficiently, remain competitive, and focus on what matters most — closing bookings and servicing customers with confidence.
For agency-specific details, please contact your FCT support representative.
NDC & Direct Airline Content – Available on FlyingCarpet.Travel
FlyingCarpet.Travel offers live airline content through NDC integrations and direct airline API connections, giving agents access to more competitive fares, better ancillaries visibility, and greater booking flexibility. This approach enables us to offer best pricing, richer fare options, and more transparent add-ons across multiple airlines.
Currently available NDC airlines include:
Air Cairo • Air Canada • Air Serbia • Alaska Airlines • American Airlines • Avianca • Bangkok Airways • China Eastern Airlines • Condor • Copa Airlines • Hawaiian Airlines • LATAM Airlines • LOT Polish Airlines • Pegasus Airlines • Qatar Airways • Royal Jordanian • Scandinavian Airlines • Turkish Airlines • TAP Portugal • Spring Airlines • Spring Japan • Xiamen Airline • Vueling Airlines • T way Air Co and more.
Direct API connections also available with:
Air Arabia • IndiGo • FlySafair • Jambojet
Coming soon :
Finnair • Iberia • Lufthansa Group
Offers & Promotions
Latest Airline Commission Opportunities
For the convenience of agents, promotion and special commission opportunities are updated daily in the commission file accessible within your FlyingCarpet.Travel account, making it easy to stay informed and plan bookings accordingly.
Some of our current special commissionable offers include:
- Air China – Valid for sales until February 19 on U.S. routes
- Fiji Airways – Valid for sales until February 28 on flights from the U.S. to Australia and New Zealand (notably high commissions)
We recommend reviewing the commission file regularly to take advantage of time-sensitive offers.