Passengers grounded as Mango suspends flights

Low-cost carrier Mango Airlines has suspended all flights until further notice due to the inability check passengers in.

DURBAN, April 28 (ANA) – South Africa’s low-cost carrier Mango Airlines said on Wednesday that it has suspended all flights until further notice, leaving passengers stranded at the airport.

According to the airline, none of the Wednesday morning flights had departed, due to the inability to process customer information at check-in counters.

Mango confirmed the suspension of flights in a statement via Twitter on Wednesday morning.

“Mango Airlines apologises for this morning’s flight interruptions and delays. We are currently working on a solution and will be back at the counters and hope to clear the delays as soon possible,” Mango Airlines said.

However, several reports online indicate that the airline had to be grounded because it failed to make payments to the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa).

The African News Agency (ANA) contacted Acsa on Wednesday, but spokesperson Gopolang Peme said he could not divulge further information as the matter was still under deliberation.

“At this stage all I can say is that once Acsa is ready, we will issue a statement,” Peme said.

According to online travel agency Travelstart, all Mango flights departing from now until April 30 will continue to operate as scheduled. However, it indicated that there was uncertainty about flights thereafter.

Videos and pictures circulating on social media showed passengers queuing up at check-in points at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Passengers who attempted to visit the Mango office at OR Tambo International were apparently stopped in their tracks by security.

Mango Airlines is a subsidiary of South African Airways and is a state-owned entity.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher