Cape Town Airport Battles Back After Fire Disrupts Systems and Passenger Flow
Cape Town International Airport is working around the clock to restore full operations after a fire broke out on Tuesday 24 February 2026, causing significant disruption to the facility's network and IT infrastructure. While power has been successfully restored across affected areas, several digital and automated systems remain only partially functional as technical teams push to bring everything back online.
The impact on day-to-day airport operations has been substantial. As of this morning, 25 February, the Airports Company South Africa confirmed that most airline check-in systems are now working again, with one notable exception — Lift Airlines, which continues to process passengers manually at the counter. Beyond check-in, however, key parts of the airport's processing chain remain in manual mode. The Border Management Authority and customs are both operating without their usual digital systems at international arrivals, and baggage handling is also being managed manually For passengers arriving on international flights, this combination is likely to result in noticeably longer waiting times at every stage from touchdown to exit.
For travel professionals across sub-Saharan Africa, the situation at Cape Town demands immediate attention, particularly for anyone with clients departing from or arriving at the airport in the coming days. The advice from ACSA is clear: travellers should arrive significantly earlier than usual, expect longer queues at check-in counters, anticipate possible departure delays and be prepared for slower baggage delivery. Checking real-time flight status before leaving for the airport — either through the ACSA Mobile App or directly with the airline — is strongly recommended.
The disruption extends beyond the departure halls. ACSA has announced the temporary closure of the usual Meeters and Greeters corridor at the international terminal. A replacement area has been set up at the International Inner Lane on the ground floor. Anyone collecting international passengers is being directed to exit the terminal via the area near the bookshop and proceed to the temporary meeting point. Agents who have clients being met on arrival should ensure that drivers, transfer companies and family members are aware of the changed access arrangements to avoid confusion on the ground.
The fire itself broke out on Tuesday morning, and images from the scene showed passengers stranded outside terminals as emergency procedures took effect. While ACSA has not yet released detailed information about the cause or the full extent of damage to infrastructure, the fact that network and IT systems are still being stabilised more than 24 hours later suggests the incident affected critical backend systems rather than just surface-level facilities. Restoring airport technology platforms — which manage everything from flight information displays to security screening, immigration processing and baggage sortation — is a complex task that cannot be rushed without risking further problems.
The timing of the incident is particularly challenging. Cape Town remains one of Africa's most popular tourism destinations, and February marks the tail end of the peak summer season when visitor numbers are still high. The airport serves as the primary gateway for international tourists visiting the Western Cape, including the winelands, the Garden Route and the Cape Peninsula. Any extended period of reduced efficiency at the airport risks affecting not just individual travellers but broader confidence in the destination at a commercially important time of year.
It is worth noting that ACSA had been investing in baggage sortation system upgrades at Cape Town, King Shaka and OR Tambo airports as part of a programme to improve reliability and build redundancy into critical systems. How the current incident interacts with those ongoing improvement projects remains to be seen.
For the African travel trade, the immediate priority is client communication. Agents with bookings involving Cape Town departures or arrivals over the coming days should proactively reach out to travellers, advise them of the situation and ensure they have access to real-time updates. Building extra time into airport transfers, confirming meeting point arrangements and having contingency plans for potential delays are all practical steps that will make a tangible difference to the client experience during what is an unavoidably difficult period for the airport.
