Mango Airlines business rescue nears conclusion as sale deal with investor approaches finalization

SOUTH AFRICA – Mango Airlines has entered the final stages of its business rescue process, with a sale-and-purchase agreement between the low-cost carrier and its selected investor nearing completion.

The airline, which has been grounded since July 2021, is preparing for a potential relaunch following a protracted period of legal and procedural challenges.

Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP) Sipho Sono confirmed that Mango is actively working to finalize the transaction aimed at reviving the airline’s operations.

This phase follows extended debates and litigation involving Sono, the former Ministry of Public Enterprises, and the South African Airways (SAA) board.

The disputes centered on transparency concerns regarding the identity and financial capacity of prospective investors, which delayed progress for months.

As part of the business rescue proceedings, Mango is currently verifying outstanding claims related to unflown tickets purchased before July 26, 2021, for travel dates after the suspension of operations.

Passengers who bought tickets but were unable to fly due to the airline’s grounding have been notified that, if the investor deal concludes successfully, they will receive vouchers equal to the value of their unused tickets.

These vouchers will be valid for future travel once Mango resumes flights. However, if the transaction does not materialize, these ticket claims will be treated as creditor claims within the business rescue process, entitling passengers to dividend payouts covering a portion of their ticket value.

Sono has urged affected passengers to verify their ticket details through Mango’s official verification portal, which opened recently and will close on September 1, 2025. Submissions after this deadline will not be accepted, and failure to verify may result in forfeiture of claims.

South African Airways, Mango’s parent company, has clarified that it holds no authority or involvement in Mango’s financial obligations, business planning, or claims process.

Although Mango remains a subsidiary of SAA, its business rescue process is independent and separate from SAA’s own rescue, which concluded in April 2021.

SAA emphasized that it is focused on its operational priorities and advised the public to direct all Mango-related inquiries to the airline’s official channels.

The successful conclusion of this sale agreement is critical to the future of Mango Airlines, which has been grounded for nearly four years.

The business rescue practitioner has highlighted the urgency of finalizing the deal to enable the airline’s return to the skies and restore affordable air travel options in South Africa.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.