Low cost airline Mango’s CEO Nico Bezuidenhout today said that the low cost airline benefitted from football’s greatest showcase in June and July. Over the tournament period Mango averaged a 97% load factor carrying more than 180 000 Guests with 106 540 pieces of luggage over 1344 flight hours. Estimates show that more than half of travellers on the airline over the period were en route to matches while approximately 60% of Guests were foreign visitors.
Mango says its World Cup was a success
“The tournament has delivered beyond expectations,” says Bezuidenhout, “and outside the challenge at King Shaka International on semi-final day, it has been a very smooth and efficient event for the aviation sector.” Mango’s call centre operated 24/7 during the tournament, handling over 4000 late night calls with a 26% rise in daytime volumes recorded. Service levels never dipped beneath 85% as most calls were answered within 20 seconds of first ring.
Mango’s investment in its Bloemfontein ground handling operation paid dividends as the airline handled several carriers landing from both domestic and international origins. “Volumes of flights arrived prior to a match, many departing in the morning’s small hours. As with our call centre, Bloemfontein operated around the clock to manage the vast numbers of fans passing through the city.” Bezuidenhout says that he is beyond proud and satisfied with his colleagues in delivering an efficient and affordable service to Guests. This in tandem with our world-class airports and well organised tourism sector.
As the tournament progressed, a similar pattern to usual domestic flight bookings emerged. Booking lead times, outside of advance tour group bookings, were shorter – in particular as teams progressed through stages. “A week before kick-off, Mango still had some unsold inventory. By week 2 of the tournament, we were near sold out.”
Bezuidenhout says that the tournament has shown that South Africa is beyond capable of delivering a world class event of any size. “Years of preparation, teamwork between all parties and competitors, even, have made the World Cup a success. Beyond aviation and travel one cannot but be exceptionally proud of our Police, Metro Police and the thousands of committed South Africans that, like all of us, laboured to ensure an absolute accomplishment.
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