Major disruptions at key South African international airport

A fire broke out at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA), leaving many passengers in the dark.

On Tuesday, 24 February, a fire broke out in an office at CTIA. Evacuations took place in parts of the airport, including many of the airport’s staff and some passengers.

While the fire has been extinguished, and all passengers, staff, and visitors are safe, many passengers are now in the dark regarding their flight schedules.

“We understand that this incident may have caused concern, and we urge all passengers and visitors to follow security instructions and proceed to designated places of safety as directed by airport personnel,” Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said in a press statement.

Following the evacuations, airline operator FlySafair told affected passengers via SMS that several flights to and from CTIA are delayed due to a fire at the terminal building, which has reduced airport departure capacity. 

“The fire has been extinguished, and no injuries were reported. We are assisting passengers as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience,” the SMS stated.

Another SMS informed passengers that the baggage system is currently unavailable. “If travelling from Cape Town today, we recommend carry-on luggage only. Thank you for your understanding,” it read.

ACSA confirmed that the fire affected its network and IT services, including airport Wi-Fi and other essential systems. 

“As a precautionary measure, international departures have been temporarily suspended, and incoming international flights are being diverted,” the airport said. 

“International flights that have already landed are being processed. Passengers travelling on domestic departures or arriving on domestic flights are advised to check directly with their airlines and the ACSA Mobile App for the latest flight information.”

An affected traveller told Daily Investor that many passengers in other parts of the airport did not receive any communication from the airport during the fire and evacuation, and were left unattended when staff members left.

Many passengers remain uncertain regarding their scheduled flight times. Power at the airport’s domestic terminal was only restored around 14:35.

Following the restoration of power at the airport, FlySafair sent an email to affected passengers, in which it informed them that the airport’s baggage handling and check-in systems are currently unavailable.

“We strongly encourage all passengers travelling from Cape Town today to check in online before arriving at the airport,” it said.

“We also recommend, where possible, travelling with carry-on baggage only. This will help minimise delays and allow for a smoother airport experience.”

The airline operator said its teams are working closely with the airport authorities and will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. No specific details on updated departure times were shared.

Cape Town International Airport