Licenses of South African carrier Mango Airlines revoked for two years

It’s not looking good for any revival of South African low-cost carrier Mango Airlines. The company’s licenses have been suspended by the local Air Services Licensing Council for two years.

Mango has not operated flights for over a year. However, a report on August 3, 2022, suggested that one of the bidders interested in the low-cost carrier had been able to present proof of funding.

The two-year license suspension by the Council was reported on August 7, 2022, by local media. In a letter dated August 3, cited by Times Live, the Council said that the suspension was effective immediately because “Mango has not operated the licensed air services for an uninterrupted period exceeding 12 months”.

Mango entered business rescue, a form of bankruptcy proceedings, in July 2021 and suspended flights at that time because of unpaid air traffic bills. It had previously been forced to suspend flights just a few months earlier, due to outstanding payments to Airports Company South Africa (ACSA).

Parent South African Airways, which itself has gone through business rescue proceedings, had previously said it hoped to have a bidder in place by March 2022.