Mango Airlines Faces Final Curtain Call As Revival Hopes Collapse

For years, South African travellers held onto the hope that Mango Airlines might rise from the ashes and reclaim its place as one of the country’s favourite low-cost carriers. That hope is now all but extinguished.

From Rescue Plan To Reality Check

Mango’s Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP), Sipho Sono, has conceded that the airline’s long and painful revival process has reached the end of the runway. With courts declaring the original business rescue plan invalid, appeals failing, and its would-be saviour investor walking away, Sono has told creditors that the only realistic option is a structured wind-down.

Instead of dragging out legal battles, Sono will publish an amended plan on August 19, giving creditors a chance to vote. The goal is to squeeze out the best possible payout before closing Mango’s books. If that fails, liquidation will follow under the guidance of an independent liquidator.

What Creditors Can Expect

According to Sono, creditors could receive an initial dividend within 30 days of adopting the new plan, covering 70% of their projected payout. The remainder would be settled within three to five months, once unflown ticket claims are verified — a process expected to wrap by September.

This structured approach aims to soften the blow for creditors, but it also underscores a sobering truth: Mango will not be returning to the skies.

Investor Pulls The Plug

Mango’s last lifeline was Ubuntu Air Services, a private consortium that promised to relaunch the airline in partnership with a licensed carrier. Their withdrawal on July 31 was a turning point. Facing regulatory delays and mounting uncertainty, the group abandoned its plans, leaving Mango without the capital or industry backing needed to fly again.

A Blow To South African Aviation

The collapse of Mango comes at a time when South Africa’s aviation market is already under pressure. The grounding of SAA’s budget arm has left domestic routes dominated by FlySafair, Airlink, and Lift, with fewer low-cost options for travellers. Industry analysts warn that less competition means higher fares and fewer choices for ordinary South Africans, many of whom relied on Mango for affordable travel between Joburg, Durban, and Cape Town.

Public Reaction And Nostalgia

On social media, former Mango passengers have been reminiscing about the bright orange planes and budget-friendly fares that made air travel more accessible to families, students, and first-time flyers. Many expressed frustration that another state-linked airline has collapsed despite attempts at revival. “Mango was our gateway to affordable holidays. Now it’s gone,” one traveller wrote on X.

The Bigger Picture

Mango’s fall highlights the challenges of keeping state-backed carriers afloat in a competitive and unforgiving market. Despite its popularity, the airline’s reliance on bailouts, coupled with regulatory delays and investor hesitancy, ultimately sealed its fate.

For now, Sono’s task is not to revive Mango, but to give it a dignified farewell — one that ensures creditors are paid and South Africans can finally close the chapter on an airline that once coloured the skies orange.

Source:Travel News 

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