South Africa's grounded airlines — and who flies their routes now.
Mango, Kulula, SA Express, 1time, Nationwide, Velvet Sky, Fly Blue Crane: South Africans still search for them every day. None of them fly. Here's what happened to each, where refunds stand, and how to book the same routes today.
Status reviewed July 2026
Written and reviewed by Kyle Govender, founder and editor · Johannesburg
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The full list
Every grounded South African airline.
| Airline | Stopped flying | What happened | Routes now flown by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mango | July 2021 | Business rescue → structured wind-down; refund claims close 22 Sep 2026 | FlySafair, LIFT, Airlink, SAA |
| Kulula | May 2022 | Comair liquidated June 2022 | FlySafair, LIFT |
| British Airways (domestic) | May 2022 | Comair franchise — ended with the liquidation; BA still flies internationally | SAA, FlySafair, LIFT |
| SA Express | 2020 | Grounded, then provisional liquidation | Airlink, CemAir |
| Fly Blue Crane | 2017 | Business rescue, operations ceased | Airlink, CemAir |
| 1time | November 2012 | Liquidated after business rescue | FlySafair |
| Velvet Sky | 2012 | Liquidated | FlySafair, LIFT |
| Nationwide | April 2008 | Ceased operations, liquidated | FlySafair, SAA |
Deep dives with refund detail: Mango — refund deadline 22 September 2026 and Kulula — what replaced the green machine.
Why so many failed
A brutal market — and what it means for your fare.
South Africa's domestic market has buried more airlines than it currently flies. The pattern repeats: thin margins on a handful of trunk routes, fuel and currency shocks, and — for the state-linked carriers — funding that arrived too late or not at all. 1time and Velvet Sky fell in 2012, Fly Blue Crane in 2017, SA Express in 2020, Mango in 2021, and Comair took both Kulula and British Airways' domestic network down in 2022.
The survivors earned their seats: FlySafair carried roughly 60% of domestic capacity according to a February 2023 industry report (AeroTime), Airlink absorbed the regional network SA Express left behind, LIFT holds the Johannesburg–Cape Town corridor, CemAir serves the small towns, and SAA emerged from its own rescue leaner. For travellers, the practical lesson is simple: brand loyalty to a memory doesn't find you a cheap seat — a live comparison across the five airlines that actually fly does.
See who flies your route todayGrounded airlines FAQs
Questions travellers ask.
Which South African airlines no longer fly?
The grounded list includes Mango (stopped July 2021, now in final wind-down), Kulula and British Airways domestic (Comair liquidated 2022), SA Express (grounded 2020), Fly Blue Crane (2017), 1time (2012), Velvet Sky (2012) and Nationwide (2008). Five airlines still fly domestically: FlySafair, LIFT, Airlink, CemAir and SAA.
Can I still book a flight on SA Express?
No. SA Express, the state-owned regional carrier, was grounded in 2020 and placed into provisional liquidation. It has not flown since. Its regional routes are now largely covered by Airlink and CemAir.
What happened to 1time Airlines?
1time, one of South Africa's early low-cost carriers, was liquidated in November 2012 after entering business rescue. Its budget positioning on the trunk routes was ultimately taken over by the airlines that followed — today FlySafair fills that role.
Is any grounded South African airline coming back?
Realistically, no. Mango's business rescue ended in a structured wind-down after its investor withdrew in 2025, Comair (Kulula/BA domestic) was liquidated in 2022, and the older casualties were wound up years ago. New entrants occasionally launch, but none of the grounded brands is returning.
Who flies the routes these airlines used to fly?
FlySafair carried roughly 60% of domestic seat capacity according to a February 2023 AeroTime industry report, up from about 25% before the pandemic — the exact figure moves as the market keeps shifting, so treat it as an order of magnitude, not a live number. LIFT flies Johannesburg–Cape Town, Airlink runs the widest regional network (covering most former SA Express routes), CemAir serves smaller towns, and SAA operates full-service trunk routes. Run a live search to see exactly who flies your route today.
I still have a ticket or voucher from a grounded airline — what now?
Mango’s published customer verification period ended on 22 September 2026. Check the official Mango website for further instructions or any extension; current submission availability is not verified here.
The brands changed — the routes didn't
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