Category Archives: Mango

Mango loses its licenses

Mango Airlines has lost its operating licenses due to its inactivity in South Africa.

The Air Services Licensing Council on August 3 suspended Mango’s licenses “for a period of two years, effective immediately, as Mango has not operated the licensed air services for an uninterrupted period exceeding 12 months”.

The airline suspended operations on July 27, 2021 and has not been able to find investors to resume operations.

Previously on December 2, 2021 the grounded airline issued this update:

Mango is pleased that the amended business rescue plan has been adopted by creditors and the shareholder. The business rescue practitioner will now proceed to implement the business rescue plan, with the key deliverable being the completion of the process to solicit a preferred bidder to conclude the acquisition of Mango.

The investor process, including the relevant guidelines and process to be followed by interested parties, is available on the Company website in the business rescue tab. It is anticipated that the process to secure a successful bidder, inclusive of concluding the relevant acquisition agreements, will be completed by the end of March 2022.

Mr. Sipho Sono

Business Rescue Practitioner

Mango aircraft photo gallery:

Mango Airlines to enter “business rescue” in South Africa, suspends operations

Mango Airlines (subsidiary of South African Airways) will enter into a South African form of bankruptcy protection known locally as business rescue.

Parent SAA exited business rescue in April but Mango was not included.

Today the low-fare airline issued this statement on social media:

Mango Airlines apologizes for today’s flight interruptions and delays.

We can confirm that our services and all flights are temporarily suspended from today, July 27, 2021, until further notice due to outstanding payments to ATNS.

We plan to resume normal operations as soon as possible. We ask for calm and patience as we navigate these challenges. We will update the public as soon as possible. We apologize in advance for the inconvenience caused.

Top Copyright Photo: Mango (South African Airways) Boeing 737-8BG WL ZS-SJP (msn 32358) HLA (TMK Photography). Image: 920548.

Mango Airlines aircraft slide show:

Mango Airlines continues to fly

Mango Airlines made this short announcement on social media:

We are excited to inform you that despite a lot of speculation and uncertainty during this past week, Mango Airlines continues to operate as normal on Saturday, May 1, 2021 and beyond, except for Zanzibar at this stage.

Route Map: With the loss of Zanzibar, the airline is only flying domestic routes:

Top Copyright Photo: Mango (South African Airways) Boeing 737-844 WL ZS-SJR (msn 32631) JNB (Paul Denton). Image: 923004.

Mango aircraft slide show:

Can Mango Airlines avoid a May closure?

Mango Airlines, the low-fare subsidiary of South African Airways, is also facing a cash crunch like its parent.

The government had approved a rescue package of parent SAA but the details of further payments to its subsidiaries has not yet been worked out. Payments are now being promised for June.

The lessors of its 14 Boeing 186-seat 737-800s are demanding immediate payment of overdue lease payments by the end of April or the fleet will be grounded on May 1, 2021.

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) William Ndlovu sent this memo to employees:

“This means that Mango will not be able to operate from May 15, 2021, due to no aircraft being available for operations. It has been proposed that we must be put into business rescue (bankruptcy) until July 2021. Our flights will be grounded until such a time where we receive funding, or complete the business rescue process.”

Can Mango Airlines survive?

Mango flies between South Africa’s major airports and offers air services between the following cities:

Johannesburg (OR Tambo International) and Cape Town
Lanseria (Johannesburg) and Cape Town
Johannesburg and Durban
Lanseria (Johannesburg) and Durban
Cape Town and Durban
Bloemfontein and Cape Town
Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth
Johannesburg and George

For all those who love island living, Mango also operates flights between Johannesburg and Zanzibar.

Route Map:

Top Copyright Photo: Mango (South African Airways) Boeing 737-8BG WL ZS-SJL (msn 32356) JNB (Ton Jochems). Image: 953540.

Mango aircraft slide show:

Mango Airlines to install Split Scimitar® winglets on its Boeing 737-800 fleet

Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) announced today that South Africa’s Mango Airlines has ordered its latest Split Scimitar Winglet technology for its Boeing Next Generation 737-800 fleet.

Mango Airlines plans to perform the first installation of the Split Scimitar Winglets in February at South African Airways Technical facility.

The Split Scimitar Winglet modification reduces Boeing Next-Generation 737 block fuel consumption by an additional 2.2% over the Blended Winglets. The Split Scimitar Winglet System will reduce Mango’s annual fuel requirements by more than 155,000 liters per aircraft, and their carbon dioxide emissions by over 390 tons per aircraft per year.

Since launching the Boeing Next-Generation 737 Split Scimitar Winglet program APB has taken orders and options for more than 2,000 systems, and nearly 1,200 aircraft are now operating with the technology. APB estimates that its products have reduced aircraft fuel consumption worldwide by over 9.1 billion gallons to-date thereby saving over 96 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Aviation Partners Boeing is a Seattle based joint venture of Aviation Partners, Inc. and The Boeing Company.

Mango Airlines SOC Ltd, trading as Mango, is a state-owned South African low-cost airline based at OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg, South Africa and a subsidiary of South African Airways.

South African to rationalize their domestic route network, Mango to grow larger

South African Airways Group airlines, South African Airways (SAA) and Mango, its low-cost subsidiary, announced plans to rationalize their route network for improved efficiencies and optimal aircraft utilisation through a revised airline brand schedule. This will see additional Mango operated flights for the domestic market.

The rationalization program follows an earlier announcement in September, where the airline announced network changes as part of the progressive implementation of its turnaround plan. These initiatives form part of the Five-year turnaround plan to return the business to commercial sustainability in the shortest time possible.

Both SAA and Mango currently offer 200 return flights per week between Johannesburg and Durban and 278 return flights per week between Johannesburg and Cape Town.

Photos above: SAA. The Mango cabin.

To enhance efficiencies and to provide more diverse offering to customers, whilst responding to demand, the two airline brands will ensure seamless implementation of the revised schedule with effect from January 15, 2018. Once fully implemented Mango will operate 132 return flights on the Johannesburg – Durban route and 116 return flights on the Johannesburg – Cape Town route per week. SAA will operate 68 return flights between Johannesburg and Durban, and 162 return flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The SAA group will continue to offer customers the option to travel on the product of their choice, making it much more convenient for them to choose their preferred service and schedule.

The changes will be reflected in all the SAA and Mango distribution systems with effect from 12 December 2017.

Mango flights will operate on Boeing 737-800s and SAA will discontinue operating Airbus A340-600s on the Johannesburg – Cape Town route.

Above Copyright Photo: South African Airways Airbus A340-642 ZS-SNF (msn 547) JNB (Paul Denton). Image: 923668.

Members of Voyager, SAA’s frequent flyer programme, will continue to earn Miles on Mango operated flights if booked on the SAA code and will continue to enjoy the SAA baggage allowance, lounge access and a seamless transfer on to the regional and international network services of SAA. Voyager members can also spend their Miles on Mango operated flights, by utilising Miles or a combination of Miles and a range of payment options.

Top Copyright Photo: Mango (South African Airways) Boeing 737-8BG WL ZS-SJK (msn 32355) JNB (TMK Photography). Image: 913072.

Mango:

South African Airways:

Star Alliance to expand its network with lower-cost “Connecting Partners”, Mango to be the first

The Star Alliance has issued this statement:

To expand network reach via low-cost and hybrid airlines, Star Alliance launches a new model. South African airline Mango to be first airline to implement.

Star Alliance is set to expand its network reach with the launch of its Connecting Partner Model. Under this new concept, routes operated by “low-cost” and “hybrid” airlines will be able to connect to the Alliance network. This will allow customers of Star Alliance member carriers to select from an even wider choice of destinations and flights.

“With this innovative concept, we are breaking new ground. We see a definite trend of convergence between the ‘traditional full service’ and ‘low-cost’ business models in the airline industry,” said Mark Schwab, CEO Star Alliance. “At the same time, our customers are telling us that they need access to markets where we do not yet provide ideal coverage. In many cases network carriers are not in a position to fill this gap and hence working with future Connecting Partners will allow us to provide an extended network to our travellers.”

Connecting Partners will be carefully assessed for their fit into the existing Star Alliance network. While these selected airlines need to comply and adhere to the high operating standard required by the Alliance, they will not become a member of the Alliance itself.

Customers travelling on an itinerary which includes a transfer between a Star Alliance member airline and a Connecting Partner will be offered Alliance benefits such as passenger and baggage through check-in. Moreover, Star Alliance Gold Card holders will enjoy a tailored set of privileges in line with the different product offerings of the individual Connecting Partner.

Connecting Partners will enter into bilateral commercial agreements with selected Star Alliance member airlines, which may include additional Frequent Flyer Programme based privileges.

Innovative and multi-award winning South African low-cost airline Mango has been selected as the first airline with which Star Alliance will be implementing the new concept.

“We are delighted to be working with Mango as we marry traditional and low-cost or hybrid airlines for the first time in our Alliance’s history. The airline’s innovative and progressive style makes it an ideal candidate for launching our new Connecting Partner concept. We aim to have first customers using this new offer as of the third quarter of 2016,” adds Schwab.

Mango’s first flight took to the skies on November 15, 2006. Since then, the airline has grown its fleet from four to 10 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operating between South Africa’s key domestic points as well as between Johannesburg and Zanzibar. The carrier remains the only African airline to offer on-board Wi-Fi. In addition, Mango has been recognised for its Customer Service Excellence by various awards, including the World Travel Awards and Skytrax.

“Innovation and a relentless pursuit of excellence are the cornerstones of Mango and fundamental to our culture as a business,” says Mango CEO Nico Bezuidenhout. Mango celebrates a decade in aviation next year and the carrier has recently become the largest low-cost airline in South Africa by passenger volume. “Participation in the development of, and ultimately becoming the launch Star Alliance Connecting Partner airline, wedges-in with our medium to long term business objectives,” he added.

Bezuidenhout said that while the Connecting Partner product flies in the face of convention, the common ground for the concept relates directly to the bottom line. “Becoming a Connecting Partner will give any low-cost or hybrid airline a competitive advantage that immediately grows market share while creating greater choice for travellers,” he said.

Copyright Photo: Christian Volpati/AirlinersGallery.com. Mango will be first carrier admitted under this new program. Boeing 737-8BG WL ZS-SJP (msn 32358) arrives at the Johannesburg base.

Mango aircraft slide show:

Mango has second profitable year in a row

Mango (subsidiary of South African Airways) (Johannesburg) reported a fiscal year profit of $2.6 million, its second profitable year in a row. The low-fare airline also reported a high 91 percent load factor.

Read the full report in Dispatchonline:

CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Rainer Bexten. Mango is certainly a colorful airline. Boeing 737-8BG ZS-SJL (msn 32356) arrives back at the Johannesburg base.

Mango aircraft slide show: