Mango (airline)

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Mango

IATA JE	ICAO MNO	Callsign TULCA
Founded		2006
Hubs		OR Tambo International Airport
Focus cities		Cape Town International Airport Durban International Airport
Frequent flyer program		None
Member lounge		None
Fleet size		4
Destinations		4
Parent company		South African Airways
Headquarters		Johannesburg, South Africa
Key people		Nico Bezuidenhout CEO
Website: http://www.flymango.co.za

Mango is an internet-based low-cost airline operating in South Africa, and is wholly owned by South African Airways. It competes directly with the likes of rivals Kulula and 1Time.

1 History
2 Fleet
3 Destinations served by Mango
4 External links

[edit] History

After years of losing market-share to low-cost carriers such as Kulula, South African Airways executives decided to launch their own domestic carrier to compete in this market. Within hours of being online, the www.flymango.co.za website was downed due to excessive traffic caused by eager would-be commuters clamouring to book seats, which at a starting price of R169, were almost half that of rival Kulula.

The airline launched in October 2006 amidst much fanfare and criticism. Rival airlines noted that Mango could afford to subsidise ticket prices as its parent company, SAA, is a public governmental company, and therefore taxpayer funded. This has fuelled outcries of unfair trading.

A report by Finance 24 claimed that South African taxpayers are funding the airline to the tune of R3 million a day.

Mango had a poor start as many passengers complained about late flights and having to turn back to their departure airport because of technical difficulties.