Farewell to Mango: South Africa’s Beloved Orange Airline Bows Out

After years in limbo, Mango Airlines finally reaches its last landing.

For many South Africans, Mango Airlines wasn’t just a way to get from Joburg to Cape Town, it was part of our travel stories, our family holidays, and even our first taste of affordable flying. Now, after four years of business rescue and dashed hopes of revival, the bright orange planes that once dotted our skies will never take off again.

A Bright Start That Changed the Game

Launched in 2006, Mango was born as a low-cost subsidiary of South African Airways (SAA), designed to keep up with the rise of budget carriers. It quickly became more than just competition, it was a trendsetter.

Mango was the first local airline to launch an app, the first to offer in-flight WiFi, and even allowed passengers to buy tickets at grocery stores. Its famous R1 sales became legendary, sparking online frenzies every time they went live. At one stage, Mango was the fastest-growing domestic airline in the country.

Former CEO Nico Bezuidenhout remembers those days with pride: “Mango innovated, it led the pack. From apps to in-flight performances, we broke barriers. We didn’t just fly people, we created experiences.”

From Cultural Icon to Cautionary Tale

It wasn’t just about flying. Mango became a cultural brand, instantly recognisable for its striking orange livery and heart logo. Flights sometimes hosted live music, crews were celebrated for their warmth, and the airline felt—at least to many South Africans, like family.

But that family was slowly broken apart by something no airline can survive for long: political interference and bureaucratic delays.

According to business rescue practitioner Sipho Sono, Mango was denied access to state funding that could have saved its operations. Its licences were cancelled in 2023, investors walked away, and without aircraft, Mango’s value evaporated.

Aviation consultant and former Mango executive Barry Parsons didn’t mince his words: “Government obstruction was relentless. By the time the courts ruled in Mango’s favour, it was too late, the damage had been done.”

The People Behind the Planes

Perhaps the hardest part of Mango’s closure isn’t the empty runways, it’s the people left behind.

• Jordan Butler, a former captain, remembers the pride of taking command of a Mango jet for the first time: “It felt like flying with family. The crew made every flight special.”

• Nthabiseng Dube, a cabin crew member, recalls how teams pulled together during tough flights: “We supported each other like siblings. Passengers could feel the love on board.”

• Marelize Labuschagne, Mango’s former CFO, describes it simply: “It wasn’t just a workplace. It was a second home.”

These stories remind us that airlines aren’t only about balance sheets and government approvals. They’re about people, pilots, crew, ground staff, and the millions of South Africans who trusted them with their journeys.

What Now for Passengers and Staff?

For those still holding Mango tickets, the news is bittersweet. According to Sono, passengers will only receive 11.48 cents on the rand. With no assets left except some cash in the bank, liquidation seems unlikely, but closure is certain.

Mango now joins Comair, SA Express, and Fly Blue Crane on the list of grounded airlines in South Africa’s turbulent aviation history. Only SAA, ironically, managed to survive business rescue.

End of an Orange Era

As FlySafair and Airlink strengthen their hold on the domestic market, the space Mango once filled is now occupied by others. Yet, for many, Mango’s spirit of affordability and fun set it apart in ways that numbers can’t capture.

Bezuidenhout summed it up best: “Mango was a family, until it wasn’t. But the spirit of what Mango was, and what it meant, lives on.”

Mango Airlines is gone, but its legacy remains. It gave South Africans the chance to fly, to dream, and to believe in a different kind of travel. And though its wings have been clipped, its story will forever be part of our aviation history.

{Source: The Citizen}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com