Operations at Cape Town International are returning to normal after a fire damaged key systems on Tuesday, but travellers should expect longer waiting times for international arrivals and luggage collection.
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Cape Town International Airport says operations are returning to normal following a fire in the International Inner Lane on Tuesday, February 24, but some services remain affected.
Lift Airlines is still processing passengers manually, while international arrivals are operating with manual systems through the Border Management Authority (BMA) and Customs. Travellers are advised to expect longer waiting times. International departures resumed on Tuesday evening, and all aircraft that landed during the incident have been processed, though a limited number of flights were diverted during the disruption. Baggage handling is also manual, which may cause delays in luggage delivery, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said in a statement this morning.
ACSA said the domestic travel has largely returned to normal.
The International Arrivals corridor remains closed. Passengers and meeters & greeters are asked to use the temporary area at the International Inner Lane on the ground floor. Those who could not collect luggage on Tuesday may do so at the northern side of the temporary entrance.
Yesterday, Cape Town International Airport was brought to a standstill after a fire broke out in the International Inner Lane (Northern Service Yard) at around 11.15 am. The blaze, which was quickly extinguished and caused no injuries, damaged IT and essential airport systems, forcing some international flights to be diverted and delaying dozens of domestic departures. Power was restored by mid-afternoon, but many systems remained offline, forcing airlines, including Lift, to process passengers manually. By the evening, long queues persisted, with more than 4 000 passengers waiting to check in luggage, and frustration grew as official updates were sparse and staff worked with paper manifests and handheld scanners.
Passengers needing assistance are urged to contact their airline’s ground handling agent before arriving: Menzies Aviation at 021 935 3913 or Colossal Aviation Services at 021 935 3907. The airport also recommends checking the ACSA App for real-time updates and confirming flight status with airlines directly.