Cape Town International Airport Suspends Some Flights After Fire

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) experienced significant operational disruptions on Tuesday after a fire broke out in the landside area of the terminal, leading to the suspension of international departures.

According to an official statement from Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), the fire has been extinguished, and there are no reports of injuries.

“All passengers, staff, and visitors are safe. Passenger safety remains our highest priority,” an ACSA spokesperson confirmed.

The blaze caused substantial damage to critical network and IT infrastructure, knocking out essential services including airport Wi-Fi and internal systems.

Flight Disruptions and Diversions
As a direct result of the technical outages, ACSA has implemented immediate contingency measures:

• International Departures: These have been temporarily suspended.

• Incoming International Flights: Aircraft en route to Cape Town are being diverted to alternative airports.

• Arriving International Flights: Flights that had already landed are currently being processed for arrival.

Advice for Passengers
While international travel faces the most severe delays, domestic operations are also affected. ACSA has urged passengers to verify their flight status before heading to the airport.

“We advise passengers travelling on domestic departures or arriving on domestic flights to check directly with their airlines and the ACSA Mobile App for the latest flight information,” the organization stated.

The airport has deployed additional personnel to guide passengers and visitors to designated safety areas. “We understand that this incident may have caused concern, and we urge everyone to follow security instructions as directed by airport personnel,” ACSA added.

Ongoing Updates
There is no confirmed timeline yet for when international departures will resume.

“Further updates will be provided as verified information becomes available. We thank our passengers and stakeholders for their patience and cooperation,” ACSA concluded.