South Africa: Mango placed in voluntary business rescue! [update]

update (18 August 2021): South African low-cost airline Mango is meeting with creditors and employee representatives today (18 August 2021) to chart the way forward for the carrier's business rescue efforts.

The South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has placed South African low-cost airline Mango, a subsidiary of South Africa's state-owned flag carrier South African Airways (SAA), into voluntary business rescue. The High Court dismissed an application by the Mango Pilots Association, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa and the South African Cabin Crew Association to have the low-cost airline placed in business rescue. It instead accepted an application by Mango to go into business rescue voluntarily. This allows the airline a say in who gets appointed as the business rescue practitioner. The effective date was ruled to be 28 July 2021.
Mango flights were grounded in April 2021 due to outstanding payments to Air Traffic and Navigation Services SOC Ltd (ATNS). 

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South Africa: Mango temporarily suspends all operations until further notice!

South African low-cost airline Mango, a subsidiary of South Africa's state-owned flag carrier South African Airways (SAA), has confirmed that the its services and all flights are temporarily suspended from today, 27 July 2021 until further notice due to outstanding payments to Air Traffic and Navigation Services SOC Ltd (ATNS). Senior management and Mango's shareholder are currently in emergency discussions to find a solution. The airline plans to resume normal operations as soon as possible.
Affected passengers with valid and available contact details will be informed via Email and SMS accordingly. Customers are also urged to contact the airline to deal with cancellations and voucher related matters specifically. Issued vouchers will be valid for 24 months. We'll keep you posted!

Compensation for flight delay or cancellation >>
also read:  South Africa: Mango to be placed into business rescue! >>

South Africa: Mango to be placed into business rescue!

South African low-cost airline Mango, a subsidiary of South Africa's state-owned flag carrier South African Airways (SAA), has confirmed that it will be placed into business rescue. The decision was taken by the airline's board and the Government of South Africa, while consultation with labour groups is currently underway. However, according to the Mango's acting CEO, Mr William Ndlovu, as of now operations will continue according to the airline's operating schedule. The details of the decision to place Mango into business rescue are still being finalised by all stakeholders. We'll keep you posted!

Compensation for flight delay or cancellation >>

South Africa: Cash-strapped Mango announces that flights are only suspended on 28 April 2021! [update]

update (01 May 2021): Mango has announced that it continues to operate as normal despite a lot of speculation and uncertainty during this past week. However, flights to Zanzibar remain suspended. The airline will release an update regarding flights to the Tanzanian island sometime next week. We'll keep you posted!

update (29 April 2021): Mango released an update on flights resumption and scheduling:
Flights to Durban have departed yesterday evening at 20:30 and returned just before curfew. The other two are in Cape Town and we will start with early morning schedules to Johannesburg. 

update (28 April 2021): Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has announced that it has lifted the suspension on Mango with immediate effect. The airline has made part payment today (28 April 2021) towards the amount owed to ACSA for landing fees, parking fees and passenger service charges and has made further undertakings to settle the remaining debt.

South African low-cost airline Mango, a subsidiary of South Africa's state-owned flag carrier South African Airways (SAA), has confirmed that its services and all flights are temporarily suspended for today (28 April 2021) only. According to the airline, this is due to outstanding payments to the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). Mango further confirmed that senior management and its shareholder are locked in emergency discussions to find an amicable solution to this impasse. Affected passengers are urged to contact the airline's call centre to deal with today's ((28 April 2021!) cancellation specifically. We'll keep you posted!

Compensation for flight delay or cancellation >>

South Africa: Cash-strapped Mango has suspended flights to Zanzibar (Tanzania)! [update]

update (01 May 2021): Mango has announced that it continues to operate as normal despite a lot of speculation and uncertainty during this past week. However, flights to Zanzibar remain suspended. The airline will release an update regarding flights to the Tanzanian island sometime next week. We'll keep you posted! 

South African low-cost airline Mango, a subsidiary of South Africa's state-owned flag carrier South African Airways (SAA), has announced the temporary suspension of flights to Zanzibar. According to the airline, the halt of flights to the Tanzanian island is due to financial difficulties. The decision to suspend flights to the airline's only international destination comes after news that Mango is set to ground its operations from 01 May 2021, also due to financial difficulties. As of today, the airline has not officially confirmed that it will pause its entire operation in May 2021. We'll keep you posted!

Compensation for flight delay or cancellation >>

Qatar Airways and Mango have signed an interline agreement!

The state-owned flag carrier of Qatar, Qatar Airways, and South African low-cost airline Mango have signed an interline agreement. The agreement with Mango provides passengers of Qatar Airways with seamless connectivity via OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town to one international destination in Tanzania and seven domestic destinations in South Africa including King Shaka International Airport (DUR) in Durban, Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) in Port Elizabeth, George Airport (GRJ) in George, Bram Fischer International Airport (BFN) in Bloemfontein, East London Airport (ELS) in East London and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania.
Qatar Airways currently operates to 19 weekly flights to three key destinations in South Africa - Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg - as well as to over 75 weekly flights to 23 other African destinations.
An interline agreement between airlines allows passengers to change from one flight on one airline to another flight on another airline without having to gather their bags or check-in again.

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South Africa: Mango to resume flights between Johannesburg <> Zanzibar!

South African low-cost airline Mango, a subsidiary of South African Airways (SAA), is set to resume flights to Zanzibar in Tanzania. Effective 28 November 2020, the airline will operate two weekly direct flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays between OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg and Abeid Amani Karume International Airport (ZNZ) in Zanzibar Town, the capital of Zanzibar. Flights will depart Johannesburg at 07:00 and will arrive on Zanzibar at 11:35 while the return flight will depart Zanzibar at 13:05 and will arrive in Johannesburg at 15:50.

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South Africa to phase out coronavius lockdown: Airlines have adjusted plans to resume operations! [update]

update (11 May 2020): South Africa's state-owned flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), which has been fighting for its survival since entering a form of bankruptcy protection in December 2019, has announced that it will continue to operate repatriation and cargo flights during the month of May 2020 and beyond. [more]

update (07 May 2020): All flights, "repatriation or otherwise", operated by South African Airways (SAA) will stop on 08 May 2020. According to South Africa's Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, announced that "SAA, as it exists, will not exist into the future, partly for the reasons that it was not competitive and unviable, but also because of the whole environment – both within aviation and the economy more generally – has changed very significantly. […] Nobody can quite anticipate what air travel is going to be like even two months down the line".

update (05 May 2020): Comair enters business rescue! [more]

South Africa's Government will implement a gradual and phased recovery of economic activity from 01 May 2020 with the alert level be eased from highest level 5 to level 4. The Government has indicated that this risk-adjusted approach to the coronavirus is expected to last at least 6 - 8 months until the alert level will reach level 1. Limited domestic air travel will be permitted only from alert level 3 in special circumstances, while unristricted interprovincial travel is only permitted from lockdown level 2. 

via www.stateofthenation.gov.za/

South Africa's airlines have therefore again adjusted their planes to resume operations.  The country's flag carrier, South African Airways, as well as its subsidary Mango, have provisionally suspended all flights until 31 May 2020 and anticipate to resume services from 01 June 2020. FlySafair will suspend all scheduled operations until the travel restrictions are lifted. Comair, which operates scheduled services on domestic routes in South Africa as a British Airways franchisee and also operates as a low-cost carrier under its own kulula.com brand, has announced that flights will remain suspended for the duration of the lockdown in South Africa. Regional carrier will inform the public regarding the date or service resumption once the lockdown in South Africa has been phased out. CemAir, which will operate several repatriation flights in early May 2020, has not made any further plans public. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa's most punctual domestic airlines in March 2020!

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has published the on-time performance results of domestic airlines’ flying out of OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, Durban's King Shaka International Airport (DUR) and Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) in Port Elizabeth in March 2020.
On-Time Performance is measured by comparing the actual off-block time (when aircraft pushes back) against the airline schedule time for a departing flight. The measurement is done in accordance with the IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) universal standard benchmark with considers a 15 minute deviation from the scheduled time as an on-time departure.

OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg - 15 Min on Time Performance March 2020

• Airlink - 95.51% (February 94.85%)
• FlySafair - 94.44% (February 92.16%)
• British Airways Domestic - 90.97% (February 85.77%)
• South African Airways - 87.83% (February 85.98%)
• Kulula.com - 78.77% (February 74.06%)
• Mango - 68.37% (February 74.39%)
• CemAir - 66.67% (February 70.00%)
• SA Express - 59.93% (February 64.64%)

Cape Town International Airport (CPT), Cape Town - 15 Min on Time Performance March 2020

• Airlink - 96.10% (February 94.90%)
• FlySafair - 96.03% (February 93.71%)
• British Airways Domestic - 94.19% (February 87.18%)
• South African Airways - 91.71% (February 86.18%)
• Kulula.com - 84.02% (February 82.16%)
• Mango - 76.21% (February 77.98%)
• SA Express - 75.00% (February 70.77%)
• CemAir - 63.64% (February 100.00%)

King Shaka International Airport (DUR), Durban - 15 Min on Time Performance March 2020

• South African Airways - 100.00% (February 87.28%)
• FlySafair - 92.41% (February 91.54%)
• British Airways Domestic - 89.87% (February 87.18%)
• Airlink - 89.00% (February 96.50%)
• Kulula.com - 82.36% (February 80.07%)
• Mango - 76.67% (February 83.35%)
• SA Express - 16.67% (February 33.33%)
• CemAir - 00.00% (Febuary --.--%)

Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), Port Elizabeth - 15 Min on Time Performance March 2020

• Airlink - 98.11% (February 94.89%)
• British Airways Domestic - 95.01% (February 89.81%)
• Flysafair - 94.78% (February 94.00%)
• Mango - 72.92% (February 81.03%)
• SA Express - 08.33% (February 25.00%)
• South African Airways - --.--% (February 84.91%) 

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South Africa's lockdown extension: Airlines have adjusted plans to resume operations! [update]

update (16 April 2020): Flysafair will resume operations on 01 May 2020. 

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of the extension of the countrywide lockdown in South Africa until 30 April 2020, the country's passenger airlines have adjusted their plans to resume operations. South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways, as well as its subsidary Mango, both announced operations will remain suspended until the lockdown is lifted. Regional carrier Airlink will implement a reduced schedule from 04 May 2020, while FlySafair announced that it will announce new commencement dates in the next few days resume operations on 01 May 2020. Comair, which operates scheduled services on domestic routes in South Africa as a British Airways franchisee and also operates as a low-cost carrier under its own kulula.com brand, has announced that flights will remain suspended until 02 May 2020. Cemair made public that it expects to be flying again on 01 May 2020. We'll keep you posted!

South Africa: These regional and domestic carriers suspend operations during the countrywide lockdown!

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement of a countrywide lockdown in South Africa from 26 March 2020, South African passenger airlines have decided to suspend operations for the time being to slow and contain the spread of the coronavirus. South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA), suspends all its domestic flights between 27 March 2020 and 16 April 2020. Airlink suspends all operations from midnight on 26 March 2020 and targets to resume operations on 20 April 2020. Mango has announced that it will halt operations from 25 March 2020 until further notice, while Flysafair also suspends all flights from 25 March 2020 and aims to resume operations in the morning of 20 April 2020. Comair, which operates scheduled services on domestic routes as a British Airways franchisee and also operates as a low-cost carrier under its own kulula.com brand, has announced that it will not be operating flights between 26 March 2020 and 19 April 2020. Cemair has so far not made an offical announcement regarding the suspension of services during the countrywide lockdown. The airline only announded plans to operate two additional Johannesburg <> Cape Town return flights and one Johannesburg <> George return flight on 26 March 2020 to "get you home befor the big lockdown". We'll keep you posted!

South Africa's most punctual domestic airlines in February 2020!

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has published the on-time performance results of domestic airlines’ flying out of OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in Cape Town, Durban's King Shaka International Airport (DUR) and Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) in Port Elizabeth in February 2020.
On-Time Performance is measured by comparing the actual off-block time (when aircraft pushes back) against the airline schedule time for a departing flight. The measurement is done in accordance with the IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) universal standard benchmark with considers a 15 minute deviation from the scheduled time as an on-time departure.

OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), Johannesburg - 15 Min on Time Performance February 2020

• Airlink - 94.85% (January 96.06%)
• FlySafair - 92.16% (January 95.45%)
• South African Airways - 85.98% (January 85.83%)
• British Airways Domestic - 85.77% (January 85.50%)
• Mango - 74.39% (January 76.93%)
• Kulula.com - 74.06% (January 77.04%)
• CemAir - 70.00% (January 82.00%)
• SA Express - 64.64% (January 63.24%)

Cape Town International Airport (CPT), Cape Town - 15 Min on Time Performance February 2020

• CemAir - 100.00% (January 88.10%)
• Airlink - 94.90% (January 96.11%)
• FlySafair - 93.71% (January 95.70%)
• British Airways Domestic - 87.18% (January 84.52%)
• South African Airways - 86.18% (January 84.62%)
• Kulula.com - 82.16% (January 81.55%)
• Mango - 77.98% (January 82.85%)
• SA Express - 70.77% (January 68.00%)

King Shaka International Airport (DUR), Durban - 15 Min on Time Performance February 2020

• Airlink - 96.50% (January 97.62%)
• FlySafair - 91.54% (January 93.64%)
• South African Airways - 87.28% (January 86.69%)
• British Airways Domestic - 87.18% (January 85.47%)
• Mango - 83.35% (January 82.74%%)
• Kulula.com - 80.07% (January 77.91%)
• SA Express - 33.33% (January 60.61%)

Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ), Port Elizabeth - 15 Min on Time Performance February 2020

• Airlink - 94.89% (January 95.95%)
• Flysafair - 94.00% (January 95.72%)
• British Airways Domestic - 89.81% (January 92.05%)
• South African Airways - 84.91% (January 81.90%)
• Mango - 81.03% (January 87.64%)
• SA Express - 25.00% (January 47.22%)

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