The gap left when 1time stopped its direct flights between Johannesburg and Zanzibar as it filed for liquidation could soon be filled.
Although most of its domestic routes have already been picked up by the remaining local carriers, 1time’s absence from Zanzibar is being felt. According to Juan Nel of African Encounters, when 1time first launched flights to Zanzibar it made the destination more affordable and more accessible. Without 1time, Nel says there has been an impact on pricing as passengers now have no option but to pay “normal airline” fares to get to the destination. 
He adds: “Another problem is that clients can’t go direct to Zanzibar and will have to take a local domestic flight from Dar es Salaam, Nairobi or Addis Ababa, so the travel time is a bit longer.” He says the situation was similar when Air Tanzania was grounded.
“There is definitely demand for a carrier to offer direct flights to Zanzibar. This has been a very popular route for 1time and the capacity had to be doubled during popular seasons,” says Nel. 
While Zanzibar is currently accessible on indirect flights on SAA, Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, Juan says, for clients booked in December, African Encounters and two other operators have organised three return charter flights with Mango to help clients booked on 1time. The flights have also made it possible to sell a few last-minute December holiday packages.
When asked if Mango would consider Zanzibar as a permanent route in the near future, the airline refused to give specific detail. Spokesperson, Hein Kaiser, says Mango is interested in various destinations on the east African coast. “We are presently in the process of researching and developing several new routes. The east African seaboard presents opportunities for both leisure and business travel.” According to Kaiser, Mango is likely to launch a new route during the course of next year by either increasing its asset utilisation or possibly expanding its fleet.