Mango customers were left stranded in several airports following the cancellation of flights due to a disagreement between Acsa and the struggling airline. File Picture: Karen Sandison/African News Agency (ANA)
Johannesburg - SAA-linked low-cost airline, Mango, was expected to resume flights on Thursday following a chaotic cancellation of flights on Wednesday.
Media reports suggest that customers were left stranded in several airports following the cancellation of flights due to a disagreement between the Airports Company of SA (Acsa) and the struggling airline.
The carrier was barred from taking off or landing at any of Acsa strip, which includes the main hubs in Joburg and Cape Town.
Passengers were encouraged to claim refunds or book again.
“We were also caught by surprise, our planes were supposed to fly all our passengers today and, in the morning, we had those flight interruptions and they escalated into delays.
“But I must take this opportunity to apologise unreservedly to all our customers. This could have been handled better and I must say we are doing what we can to reach out to our customers via SMS and via email and our call centre,” Mango spokesperson Benediction Zubane said.
He said Acsa would allow the airline to resume its flight operations today (Thursday).
“Our discussions with Acsa are yielding results and they are allowing us to fly,” Zubane said.
Mango had also made arrangements for customers who were inconvenienced on Wednesday.
The SA Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) and the National Union of Metal workers of SA (Numsa), the current biggest unions at Mango, said they had asked for a meeting with the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) as part of efforts to find a solution in the Mango matter.
Sacca said the department should assist airline.
“Mango has had liquidity issues. The DPE has not engaged and come to the party in terms of funding them so we have a situation where those that have leased the aircrafts want them back and Covid happened and most airlines suffered,” Sacca spokesperson Zazi Nsibanyoni-Mugambi said.
Staff at Mango, Nsibanyoni-Mugambi said, had suffered, with some being told they won’t be getting their salaries for the next three months. DPE spokesperson Richard Mantu was not available for comment.
The Star