Fire At Cape Town International Airport Disrupts International Flights

A fire at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday forced authorities to halt international departures and divert incoming global flights, triggering confusion and delays at one of Africa’s busiest travel hubs.

What Happened On Tuesday Morning

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed that the fire started on the landside of the airport, an area accessible to the public rather than restricted terminal zones. Fire and Rescue teams moved quickly and managed to extinguish the flames, with no injuries reported among passengers, staff, or visitors.

While the physical damage was contained, the real disruption came from the systems affected by the blaze.

Network Services Knocked Out

According to ACSA spokesperson Ofentse Dijoe, the fire damaged crucial network and IT systems, including airport Wi-Fi and essential operational tools that help keep flights moving smoothly.

With those systems offline, ACSA had to activate precautionary measures. International departures were suspended, and incoming international flights were diverted to other airports. Flights that had already landed in Cape Town were processed manually with the help of backup procedures.

Domestic Flights Still Operating

Domestic travel remained less affected, with departures and arrivals continuing as scheduled. However, ACSA advised passengers to double-check the latest updates through their airlines or the ACSA Mobile App due to potential knock-on delays.

Why This Matters For Cape Town

Cape Town International Airport has consistently ranked as one of the best airports in Africa and plays a major role in South Africa’s tourism economy. With the festive season and shoulder travel periods seeing increased international arrivals, even a short disruption can have wider travel implications.

Tuesday’s fire also highlights how dependent modern airports are on digital systems, from check-in operations to border control processing.

ACSA’s Response And Next Steps

ACSA said its priority remains passenger safety and reassured travellers that emergency protocols worked as intended. Teams are currently restoring affected systems and assessing any further operational impact.

The company thanked passengers for their patience and said more information will be shared as the situation develops.

For now, travellers heading to or from Cape Town are encouraged to monitor flight alerts closely and allow extra time for airport processes as services stabilize.

{Source:IOL}

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