Mango has announced the introduction of additional frequencies to and from Cape Town. The addition of one new frequency between Durban and Cape Town and two new scheduled flights between Johannesburg and Cape Town come as the airline introduces its new schedule, designed to meet increasing demand for its service. Mango also announced that its business travel product, Mango Plus, has experienced 22 percent growth in sales during the past quarter.

Mango has enjoyed consistently high average load factors (85 percent), says CEO Nico Bezuidenhout; this despite a period that saw fuel costs rocket and a challenging economic climate emerge as a consequence of reduced citizen spending power.

“In addition to consistently offering the lowest fares in the market, Mango has led the industry in terms of being the most punctual airline in SA, its introduction of automated check-in through self service devices at airports, web check-in and same-day-return check-in as well as leading the pack with fashion, wine tasting and comedy aboard our aircraft from time to time. We believe it’s a value add, not another concession to on-sell to our Guests.”

Bezuidenhout says that the marked increase in sales of the Mango Plus product also hints to a growing trend where business travel is moving toward more affordable options.

“Mango Plus delivers cost-effective travel from A to B with benefits that include full flexibility without penalties or administration fees, BidAir Lounge Access and on board meal vouchers as well as 10kg additional check in luggage allowances all at one fixed price. A year after we introduced Mango Plus in the market, there is still no product that can compare,” he says. Internationally leading Low Cost Carriers have over the last twelve months successfully introduced products similar to Mango Plus.

Bezuidenhout also notes that part of Mango’s success strategy is the airline’s single minded focus on growing its distribution network, making its inventory as accessible as possible to South Africans.

“Apart from our operational strategy which of course includes new generation aircraft and other efficiencies, an anchor in our business model has been Mango’s powerful channel and distribution and payment strategy which has paid off handsomely,” says Bezuidenhout.

Mango flights are for sale on the internet, through its call centres and Checkers, Shoprite and Checkers Hyper stores and travel agencies giving the airline the largest retail network among its peers. Mango also accepts the widest range of payment methods that include, beyond credit cards, Edgars, Jet and CNA account cards, its POLI direct debit system, bank deposits, electronic transfers, cell phone payments and more recently the online N-Pay system.

For more information and to book, visit http://www.flymango.com.