Mango Airlines’ revival bid collapses, airline to shut down after 4 years grounded
August 18, 2025
Mango Airlines, the low-cost subsidiary of South African Airways, is finally shutting down after four years in business rescue.
The airline, grounded since July 2021, has seen its last chance of revival collapse following the withdrawal of its prospective investor.
In a circular published by the Business Rescue Practitioners (BRPs) and reported by News24, it was confirmed that the investor, Ubuntu Air, no longer wanted to proceed with the rescue deal.
“Regrettably, on 31 July 2025, the Investor reverted that it had second thoughts about the transaction and would not be proceeding,” the BRPs said. “Part of the reason was that the delays have made scheduling of a resumption of operations unrealistic and the commitment of the other funding partner could not be secured.”
Mango will now move into a structured wind-down, ending a drawn-out process that at times appeared close to returning the bright-orange airline to South African skies.
Mango Airlines enters wind-down as investor pulls out
Mango entered voluntary business rescue in July 2021 amid mounting debts and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hopes for a relaunch had rested on private investor Ubuntu Air, which was in late-stage talks to acquire the carrier. However, the investor has now walked away, leaving Mango without a path back to service.
At its peak, Mango served more than two million passengers a year across South Africa and to Zanzibar, becoming a familiar fixture at airports with its bright livery and budget pricing. But despite its popularity, the airline struggled financially, heavily reliant on state support through parent company SAA.
The cancellation of Mango’s air operator licence in 2022 signalled how precarious its position had become, and repeated delays in finalising an investor deal further eroded confidence in a restart.
A structured wind-down will see the airline’s remaining assets sold or redistributed in an orderly way, offering creditors better recovery than outright liquidation. For passengers, the news closes the door on years of uncertainty over refunds and vouchers.
What does Mango’s exit mean for South Africa’s airline market?
Mango’s formal exit trims South Africa’s domestic airline sector further, leaving more room for competitors like FlySafair. However, that airline has been struggling with its own prolonged pilot strike.
For SAA, it draws a line under a costly and protracted chapter in its restructuring. However, the move seems to be having the desired effect, with a return to profit in 2024 and recent reports that the airline no longer requires state aid to be sustainable.
Industry observers note that the collapse of Mango’s revival underscores the difficulty of sustaining low-cost carriers in South Africa’s challenging aviation environment, where fuel costs, currency weakness, and regulatory hurdles weigh heavily on operators.
For Mango, however, the story is over. As its business rescue practitioner confirmed, the airline’s remaining journey will not be in the skies, but in the courts and balance sheets as it winds down for good.
