News South Africa

Cape Town International Airport resumes normal operations after fire incident

Robin-Lee Francke|Published

Cape Town International Airport confirms that operations are returning to normal following a fire in the International Inner Lane

Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Media

Cape Town International Airport has confirmed operations are returning to normal after a fire broke out on Tuesday

The fire disrupted international flights, which led to the temporary suspension of flights. Network and IT services were affected. 

The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) spokesperson, Ofentse Dijoe, said the fire, which broke out in the international inner lane (the northern service yard) was swiftly extinguished, and no injuries were reported. 

“In line with established safety protocols, power across the terminal was temporarily isolated to allow for thorough safety assessments. While power and most systems have been restored, some manual processing remains in place,” Dijoe said. 

Fire and Rescue teams at the Cape Town International Airport

Image: Facebook

Current Operational Status

  • Airlines: Most check-in systems are fully operational. Lift Airlines continues to process passengers manually.
  • International arrivals: The Border Management Authority (BMA) and Customs are using manual systems. Expect extended wait times.
  • International departures: International departures resumed yesterday evening, and all aircraft that landed during the incident were processed. A limited number of international flights were diverted during the disruption.
  • Baggage: Processing is currently manual; delays in delivery are expected.
  • Domestic travel: Operations have returned to normal.

Dijoe said key changes to the airport layout have been put in place. The international arrivals corridor remains closed, and meeters-and-greeters are urged to follow signage to the temporary area on the ground floor.

Passengers who were unable to collect their luggage yesterday may retrieve their bags at the northern side of the temporary meeters-and-greeters entrance.

“We would like to thank our passengers, airline partners, and stakeholders for their patience. We extend our sincere thanks to the emergency response teams for their swift and professional action,” Dijoe said. 

ACSA stated it will be issuing more information on the cause of the fire once more information from the ongoing investigation becomes available

Contact Information for baggage assistance

Passengers are advised to contact their airline’s ground handling agent before arriving:

  • Menzies Aviation: 021 935 3913
  • Colossal Aviation Services: 021 935 3907

To avoid unnecessary congestion at the terminal, all passengers are strongly encouraged to:

  • Check the ACSA App for real-time updates.
  • Contact your airline directly to confirm flight status before travelling to the airport.

 

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