Mango Airlines announced that flights will resume again on Monday, 15 June for business travel only. Bookings are open for new flights and the airline has assured all operations will remain compliant with government regulations. FlySafair, Airlink and CemAir will all resume flights in the next ten days. Comair and SAA will stay grounded as both are in the process of business rescue.
We’re happy to announce our return to the skies for business travel only between our golden triangle (JNB, CPT, DBN) routes. GO DISCOVER MORE Business.
To book your flights and to familiarise yourself with all you need to know before flying, visit: https://t.co/PB3qSIBp0X pic.twitter.com/4S1qPEePh4
— FlyMangoSA (@FlyMangoSA) June 4, 2020
Mango will be operating 12 flights a day during the week between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban. On weekends, ten flights will be operated between the three cities.
Weekday flights will take place between Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport; OR Tambo International and Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, and Cape Town International and King Shaka International. There will be four flights for each route.
The restart schedule is as follows:
In a statement, Mango announced the following:
– Permitted flights are between Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
– Only individuals travelling for essential or business travel reasons are permitted to travel by air during this phase of lockdown, and all travellers must present a relevant travel permit and letter from their employer authorising travel. This will be checked at the entrance of airports and again at check-in / boarding.
– Important enough to say it twice: if a traveller does not have a relevant travel permit for either essential or business travel signed off appropriately, the traveller will not be granted access to the airport, and may subsequently forfeit the travel ticket as purchased.
– Mango adheres to strict safety protocols and encourages our passengers to also adhere to mandated requirements for travel.
– Due to these extra regulatory and safety protocols, we would advise our Guest to plan for extra time for their flight journeys. Guest need to arrive at least two-and-half hours prior to flight as a contingency for any unforeseen delays.
Mango Airlines have put in place measures to instill confidence and trust in the sector once again.
‘When we resume flying, all our aircraft will continue to be cleaned between flights and deep-cleaned each night. They are also all equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters that capture 99% of airborne microbes in filtered air,’ said the airline.
‘In relation to further aircraft sanitisation requirements, together with Momentum Multiply, we are equipped with surface disinfectant sprays that sterilize and protect surface touch points on board our aircraft.’
With regard to social distancing and hygiene practices, the airline said: ‘We will be strategically seating our passengers on-board all our aircraft with exceptions made for Guests that are traveling together.
‘We will additionally be making it compulsory for all Guests and crew to wear cloth masks prior to entering aircraft. Guests are to note that if they do not arrive at the airport with a mask, they will be prohibited airport entry. Catering will not be provided on aircraft once operations commence. Guests are requested to bring along their own refreshments.’
Other options for essential business travel:
FlySafair, Airlink and CemAir will all resume flights in the next ten days. Comair and SAA will stay grounded as both are in the process of business rescue.
FlySafair will resume operations on 15 June, according to Moneyweb. The airline will operate flights between Cape Town International Airport, OR Tambo International Airport and King Shaka International Airport, as well as Lanseria International Airport.
Airlink will resume flights on 8 June, operating on the ‘trunk routes’ which are Johannesburg-Cape Town and Johannesburg-Durban.
CemAir will also be operating the trunk routes and operations will resume on 5 June.
International inbound tourism
In a recent tourism development, The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) have been engaging on the Tourism Recovery Strategy currently being developed by South African Tourism. TBCSA is advocating unequivocally for the earlier phased reopening of international tourism to South Africa this year, as soon as September 2020.
This was announced one day after Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said that international tourism is expected to resume only next year.
Read: Tourism Council calls for borders to open in September
Image credit: Twitter/ @FlyMango
