mango airlines south african aviation

The Rise and Fall of Mango Airlines: Lessons from South Africa’s Low-Cost Carrier Crisis

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Mango Airlines began in 2006 as a bright hope for cheap flights in South Africa, flying its bright orange planes and making travel easier for many people. But troubles at its parent company, rising costs, tough competition, and the COVID19 pandemic hit Mango hard. Despite efforts to save it, the airline closed in 2025, showing how hard it is for staterun airlines to survive without strong support and smart changes. Mango’s story reminds us that hope and hard work can take flight, but only if the winds of change blow just right.

mango airlines numsa

South Africa’s budget airline, Mango Airlines, has been facing a legal vortex, adding to the already existing economic difficulties and fallout of COVID-19. The airline has been operational since November 2006 and has been democratising air travel with its cost-effective rates.

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Mango Airlines, South Africa’s budget airline, has faced legal obstacles in its sale process, amidst economic difficulties and the fallout from COVID19. The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has urged for the speedy completion of the sale, ensuring job security for airline workers. NUMSA advocates for transparency and adherence to due process in the sale, highlighting the wider obstacles of financial restructuring within the airline industry. The completion of the sale will impact the nation’s economic and transportation landscape, and Cape Town Today remains committed to chronicling the unfolding story.

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Article NUMSA Calls for Urgent Action in the Sale of Mango Airlines

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NUMSA, a union representing over 300,000 workers, is urgently calling for a resolution to the sale of Mango Airlines, a subsidiary of South African Airways, which was forced to halt its flights due to financial difficulties. The union emphasizes the need to retain employment opportunities and sustain the airline’s offerings, seeing Mango Airlines as a crucial player in South Africa’s wider economic and connectivity aspirations. Recent developments include a court’s refusal of a ministerial appeal regarding Mango’s sale, and the focus has shifted to a provision in the Public Finance Management Act.