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Johannesburg - Low cost company Mango Airlines has patted itself on the back as "delivering on our mandate" after taking air travel to the masses by reaching an agreement with Shoprite to sell air tickets at Shoprite and Checkers stores countrywide.
CE Nico Bezuidenhout says when the company launched over a year ago it stated that its intention was making air travel more affordable and accessible and to fly the previously un-flown.
"Despite much criticism from all corners Mango has achieved significant milestones in its first year, and the airline is well on its way to achieving its two-year profitability targets," declares Bezuidenhout. "We are delivering."
He says Mango has grown the domestic market with an estimated 15% and already contributed in excess of R250m to public coffers. Bezuidenhout told Finweek over a month ago the R250m "contribution" to public coffers was in the form of fees the company pays for services by aviation-related entities like the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS).
Bezuidenhout says the airline has this year implemented several innovative payment methods and distribution channels to deliver against its proposition of making domestic aviation more affordable and accessible.
The new distribution channel comes after Mango struck a deal in May this year with the Edgars Consolidated Stores group of companies to allow Edcon account holders to buy Mango tickets with their Edgars and Jet cards.
Edcon is South Africa's largest fashion and household retail group with over 4 million account holders, while Shoprite has the largest grocery chain stores with about 500 outlets in the country. Shoprite stores are situated in high-density working class suburbs or in high traffic areas like city centres, aiming at the middle or lower income communities.
In addition to Mango's availability at travel agencies offices, the Shoprite deal makes Mango the most accessible airline company "effectively blanketing the country with booking access points". It has also launched its first standalone kiosk in Soweto where passengers can book their tickets.
- Fin 24