Cape Town International Airport Fire Causes Lingering Travel Disruptions

Travellers moving through Cape Town International Airport this week have been urged to pack extra patience after a major fire triggered a series of disruptions that the airport is still working to stabilise.

The incident, which broke out on Monday in the International Inner Lane near the Northern Service Yard, was quickly extinguished. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. But the impact on airport operations was anything but minor.

What Actually Happened?

According to Airports Company South Africa, the blaze forced officials to isolate power to parts of the terminal in order to assess structural and electrical safety. This shut down communication networks, disrupted key systems, and forced international flights to be suspended for several hours.

While the airport is now safe to operate, ACSA says some processes remain slower than usual as teams work through the backlog and continue to restore full functionality.

International Travel Slowly Returning To Normal

International departures resumed on Monday evening, but not before several flights had to be diverted. Most check-in systems are now back online, yet some services are still operating manually.

Lift Airlines, for example, continues to check travellers in by hand, which has already led to longer queues at peak times. The Border Management Authority and Customs are also working manually, pushing waiting times even further.

Baggage Delays Still Expected

Passengers have been told to brace for delays with baggage collection. While the underlying systems are being restored, the remaining manual processes mean luggage is taking longer than usual to reach the carousels.

Those who were unable to collect their bags during the height of the disruption can now fetch them from the northern side of the international meet-and-greet entrance. ACSA has encouraged passengers to reach out to their airline’s ground handling operator Menzies Aviation or Colossal Aviation Services before making the trip.

Domestic Travel Back On Track

One piece of good news: domestic operations are fully functional again. Local flights resumed normal schedules shortly after the incident, with minimal delays reported since.

Temporary Changes To Airport Layout

To keep travellers moving safely and efficiently, ACSA has introduced temporary layout changes. The international corridor remains closed, and meeters and greeters have been redirected to a temporary area at the International Inner Lane.

These adjustments may feel unfamiliar to regular travellers, and officials are asking the public to follow signage and staff instructions to avoid congestion.

What Travellers Should Do Now

With Cape Town gearing up for its late-summer tourism rush, the airport fire could not have come at a more inconvenient time. Still, the situation is steadily improving.

ACSA strongly recommends that anyone flying internationally:

• Check the ACSA app for live updates

• Confirm flight status directly with their airline

• Arrive early, especially if travelling during peak hours

While the fire caused an unexpected dent in the airport’s usual efficiency, operations are gradually returning to normal just not all at once.

Cape Town International Airport remains one of the continent’s busiest travel hubs, and this week’s disruptions serve as a reminder of how quickly a single incident can ripple across thousands of passengers. For now, patience is key as crews work behind the scenes to get the airport fully back on its feet.