Mango Airline Logo PNG
Mango Airlines’ logo embodies Africa’s vibrant colors and flavors. The emblem is as juicy and sweet as the airline’s comfortable flights, full of fresh experiences. With its unique approach to service, the company has made a lasting impact on the air travel industry.
Mango Airlines was launched in 2006 by South African Airways, then the largest airline in South Africa. The state-owned carrier created Mango as a low-cost subsidiary to respond to the rise of budget airlines in the domestic market. Its creation followed an early-2000s industry pattern in which full-service airlines set up separate discount brands while still relying on parent-company resources and infrastructure.
The airline operated its first commercial flight in October 2006 from its base at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Mango focused mainly on domestic routes, connecting Johannesburg with Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth. It used narrow-body Boeing 737 aircraft and offered lower fares than South African Airways, while serving major city pairs with high passenger demand.
Mango later added limited regional services outside South Africa, including flights to Zanzibar in Tanzania, giving the airline a small presence in leisure travel beyond the domestic market. In South Africa, its main low-cost rivals were Kulula.com, owned by Comair, and FlySafair, which became a stronger competitor during the 2010s on many routes important to Mango.
The company’s financial position remained closely tied to South African Airways, which faced growing losses and funding problems during the 2010s. In 2019, SAA entered business rescue, reducing support for Mango at a time when the subsidiary’s own reserves were weak. In July 2021, Mango suspended all flights after failing to secure enough funds. Investor talks did not restore operations, and in August 2022, the South African aviation regulator revoked Mango’s operating license after sixteen years in the market.
Meaning and History
What is Mango Airline?
It is a low-cost Johannesburg airline offering affordable flights to popular domestic destinations. As a subsidiary of South African Airways’ flagship carrier, it operates a modern fleet of Boeing 737 narrow-body aircraft configured for efficient and economical operations. The company is known for its vibrant and playful branding and a straightforward service model where passengers pay low base fares and can purchase additional services, such as checked baggage and onboard meals, for an extra fee.
2006 – 2022
The Mango Airline logo is reminiscent of a soda label illustration, with the designers depicting mango fruit as small green “bubbles” arranged around the letter “o” on a bright orange background. The glyph itself is black and features an uneven green ring, another reference to the fruit mentioned in the company name. The lettering style is childlike and asymmetrical. The letters are arranged haphazardly: the “m” is slanted to the left, the “a” that follows it is to the right, the “n” is slightly raised, and the “g” slides down following the “o.” They are all black with white outlines.
The design, reminiscent of a soda label, is meant to evoke a sense of fun and relaxation in keeping with casual travel. The bright orange background symbolizes energy and enthusiasm, while the letters’ different orientations lend the branding a whimsical, playful character.