Mango to take off again – but only for a few more flights

MANGO will today resume flying, albeit for only a couple of days, after hundreds of passengers were left stranded yesterday after the airline’s flights were abruptly grounded.

Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) yesterday suspended the lowcost carrier from using its airports countrywide due to outstanding debt.

Acsa spokesperson Gopolang Peme said Mango’s suspension had since been lifted with immediate effect following the negotiations between the two entities.

Peme did not disclose how much Mango owed to the airports operator, saying the details of the terms and conditions “remain confidential” as per their contracts.

“The airline has made part payment today (yesterday) towards the amount owed to Acsa for landing fees, parking fees and passenger service charges,” Peme said.

“The airline has made further undertakings to settle the remaining debt. It is under these circumstances that Acsa has agreed to lift the suspension on Mango Airline.”

Mango had to apologise for yesterday’s flight interruptions and delays as angry passengers tried to storm its offices at OR Tambo International Airport seeking answers.

It said it was implementing alternative travel arrangements for affected passengers.

Mango has not made a profit for years and it has been challenging tracking its financial health as its parent company, SA Airways (SAA), has not published audited results.

In May last year, SAA’s draft financial results for 2018 and 2019 showed

R16 billion in losses over the last three years.

Mango spokesperson Benediction Zubane apologised to all passengers, saying the interruptions could have been handled better.

“We were also caught by surprise this morning, but we got interruptions and they escalated into delays,” Zubane said. “There is a refund policy that we have in place in normal circumstances, but because this is abnormal, we are encouraging our passengers to phone us directly on 086 100 12 34.”

Zubane said the airline’s senior management and the government were locked in emergency discussions to find an amicable solution.

Mango’s woes began last week after it warned the market that it would temporarily suspend its operations for about two months from May 1 due to a severe cash crunch.

A leaked internal memo to staff from Mango’s acting chief executive William Ndlovu warned of operational challenges, mainly lack of funding from the government.

Ndlovu said the government had said no money would be received by Mango until June, in spite of the creditors giving the airline an ultimatum to pay by April 30.

This means that Mango will not be able to operate from May 1 due to no aircraft being available for operations.

As a result, Mango’s management proposed to temporarily stop operating and put the airline into business rescue until July.

SA Cabin Crew Association president Zazi Nsibanyoni-Mugambi blamed the government for Mango’s failures.

“The DPE is burying its head in the sand and is ignoring the plight of Mango,” she said.