Mango to operate 24/7 during the World Cup

Mango has stated that they will not increase its fares to take advantage of the hordes of foreigners coming to the country for the 2010 World Cup.

The South African low-cost airline says it will serve up 24 hour operation for the duration of the World Cup. This extended service will comprise of an extended flight schedule and support services such as a call centre and Guest Services to assist travellers. The airline has stated that they expect a massive increase in bookings now that the teams and match venues for the World Cup have been confirmed.

According to CEO Nico Bezuidenhout, Mango Airlines will not be increasing its fares to cash in on the influx of tourists to South Africa. He believes that the World Cup should showcase the country instead of exploiting the tourists. All visitors should return home with a positive perception and experience in South Africa.

Bezuidenhout says he was disheartened to see some airlines increasing their airfare for the duration of the World Cup. ‘South Africa should approach the tournament as a potential long term commercial opportunity, not an opportunity to simply rake in greenbacks. Inflated pricing is just a turn-off.’

Bezuidenhout also said that Mango will operate around the clock during the tournaments, and that the airline is well prepared to handle the large influx of people expected. According to Bezuidenhout, the number of guests they transport will likely quadruple during this period.

Mango released its updated flight schedule in November 2009, and is expecting to see a rush of scheduled flights in the months leading up to the World Cup.

According to Bezuidenhout, ‘This is a time to show what South Africans are capable of. We should look at milking visitor goodwill, not wallets. By taking a longer term view of next year’s event, it will benefit both us and generation next.’

Author bio

This article was written for  Flightsite and highlights Mango Airlines’ plans for the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa.